If you would like to write to Kenny, you can write him at the following address:
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Kenny Fairley
1012 Langhorn St.
Langcaster, CA 93535
Kenny & Debra in a recent photo September 2009
From Debra Silverman
Here is the story of how I met Kenny…
My son had a nanny and I had a good friend named Ammi.
Her dear friend had spent time working as a volunteer in San Quentin Prison, in
The time came when her friend was leaving
Right about that time Kenny's mom died and basically, beside his family/siblings, she was all he had. So we took on the role of being his family and writing to him regularly.
In fact for the next 12 years I wrote to him virtually every week. Ammi, who eventually returned to
I remember going to see Kenny with my young son in hand, in a waiting room with dozens of other inmates and their loved ones. Over the years upon my many returns there was always the same grouping, familiar faces walking around that meeting room. But of course, many of the inmates had life sentences of were on maximum security and there for an extended length of time.
In fact, Kenny had been given a life sentence. When you hear the whole story you will see that know some 27 years later, since his sentencing there are many questions as to how he received that sentence. It has since been determined it was a wrong sentence but because of Kenny's circumstance and place in life no one was listening...at least, not until a generous client of mine, just two years ago decided to sponsor Kenny and get him the best lawyer in California that this sentencing was looked and questioned.
Kenny's mom, dad, and brother had been incarnated. He grew up in with drugs in the 70's as a way of life and had not even finished high school. He was a victim to the times, his socio-economic status and a slim chance to find a different path that what had come before him.
What Kenny's character is like now, has a remorseful and even wisdom that he has cultivated in the school of hard knocks. I have witnessed him surrender to his fate, stay positive, keep the faith and in fact embody all the spiritual lessons that so many of us in the land of the free try desperately to employ. He has only positive things to say to me, and is honest about the craziness that occurs in that prison. He has made friends and worked every day he has been gone. He has learned some trades and has followed the rules making himself a model inmate for a long long time.
Every time he would go up for a parole hearing, and they happened every year. The board would hardly look at him the meeting would be a rehashing of what came before as if time had stood still. And he was never even considered for a new look at his story.
Until last year...
We hired the best lawyer in
He never hurt anyone, he never shot anyone, he was on drugs and obviously created a crime. But in no way was his sentencing accurate. When we met he had been working as a machinist, he had a roommate that he got along with for a very long time, and he had never had a out break or incident in prison. In fact, he had been told right at the beginning by an older man--"Kenny just don’t lose your temper and you'll be fine." Kenny never did lose his temper, nor is it easy for him to cry. In fact, in all these years he has not shed a tear.
Though his sense of humor is strong and alive. His interest in learning about the 12 step program, getting his GED (even though he graduated high school) and his spiritual attitude has continued through his experience. He has written me umteen letters written beautifully --to be included in this web site. Kenny is one of my heroes. I cannot begin to imagine what my psyche would have done to be incarnated all those years. To have lost faith, to become bitter, to have an edge. Kenny has done none of this. He continues to sound positive, open and so appreciative. His inmate friends have said after he has received endless letters, cards and photos from me and supporters I and Ammi have rallied around him. You are blessed Kenny.
It's hard to hear that sentence, "You are blessed Kenny" considering his story. But in the bigger picture when we realize that prison at its deepest level is what we do inside our head. Kenny has not been in prison in his head, he has seen the positive and held faith. He is blessed to be able to hold that light, spiritual view against all the odds.
And I am blessed, as are we all to know him and this story.
Kenny & Ammi in undated photo while Kenny was in prison From Ammi Brooks I started writing to Kenny 13 years ago when my friend Helana Havelock asked me to write to her friend after she left the reading program at San Quentin. I have been visiting him now for 11 years, at least once a month and when I lived in Napa Ca. every other week. Keith has written a great letter about Kenny’s case: Letter From Kenny's Attorney I will say this about his original lawyer, 28 years ago. This lawyer told Kenny about this great deal if he would confess to other crimes. Kenny told me he knew it was common knowledge that the police could stick other people with his crime, so he took this great plea bargain. He confessed to his other 2 crimes, both armed robbery to catering trucks. Now he has the three strikes against him and a kidnap/robbery. A little about Kenny’s background: He moved from Mississippi with his mom, and younger brother and sister to South Central Los Angeles when Kenny was 15. His dad was shot to death when Kenny was 13. His Mom died while Kenny was in prison. Kenny’s first offense was at the age of 16. He went to jail for 90 days. He didn’t join a gang but his brother was a Crip member. He was kicked out of the local high school for truancy and graduated from an all boy’s school. He tells me that they let everyone graduate. He didn’t learn to spell. While in prison he took many GED classes to educate himself. One of the most frustrating things about Kenny’s years in prison is that the only mark against him was when he was at Soladad prison 17 years ago when the cook gave him ½ a cooked chicken that was headed for the garbage can. Kenny knows he did stupid things. He knows he deserved time in prison. He feels badly about the women he frightened. He has no anger about his incarceration. However he does feel that the system failed him by not letting him back into society after seventeen years. What impresses me most about Kenny is his good nature and sense of humor. Even after each of his hearings he was able let go and think about the next hearing. His friends were really surprised each time he was rejected. Each time we thought this is it…they have to let him go, then some bogus reason was given for not letting him go. Time and again Kenny just shakes his head a says "I’m afraid." Always a gentleman. Always asking about my mom, my daughter and son and my "homies’ Elaine and Shirley. Always calm. A gentleman. I know that the people of Lancaster are lucky to have Kenny Fairley living in their town. He will make friends and be loved as he was in his old place of residence. I am so sorry that he had to spend those extra years locked up. I also know that he will not spend a minute being angry about his circumstances. Right now he is thinking about all of the wonderful food he gets to consume. Thank you all for your good help so that his next years will be successful ones! He deserves it. We love him! Ammi Brooks
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