Posted on 01/14/2023 10:46:56 AM PST by llevrok
A man serving between 50 years and life in the Wyoming prisons system for murdering a man and confining and sexually assaulting a woman is suing the director of the Wyoming Department of Corrections and certain staffers for taking away his PlayStation and not giving it back.
John Hereford, 34, is an inmate at the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins, according to a legal complaint filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for Wyoming.
Started With A Shakedown
Hereford alleges that he was subject to an “all facilities shakedown” search the evening of June 15, 2021.
A detention staffer told Hereford that Hereford’s name was on a list of inmates whose PlayStation video game consoles were being searched, according to the lawsuit.
Hereford wrote that he complied, giving over the PlayStation and put a video game he said was Dragon Ball Z on his bunk in the process.
The staffer asked what the game was; Hereford told him, he wrote.
The staffer asked, “Where he got the video game because it was mature rated,” Hereford’s complaint continues. Another staffer asked about the game Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Then they asked Hereford where he got that one, the complaint says.
‘Don’t Do Me Like This’
Hereford jokingly responded, “Come on … don’t do me like this, you already got my money,” according to his complaint.
“Your (sic) not going to turn this around on me,” the staffer replied, according to Hereford’s complaint.
Hereford two days later was placed in “the hole,” or segregation. He says he was isolated without a hearing.
When he got out, Hereford claims he spent two days without fresh clothing – and he never got his PlayStation back.
More Penalties
Staffers said it was being searched for contraband and had shown an error code when inspected.
Hereford received a conduct violation report due to the error code, his lawsuit says.
Hereford disputed the finding at a hearing, claiming he didn’t plug the PlayStation into anything forbidden.
He was reportedly penalized with 21 days of canteen restriction.
He also had to give up the PlayStation altogether, Hereford claims.
“Never in the 10 years the plaintiff has been in (the penitentiary) or (Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution) has there been a forfeiture of ones (sic) console for playing a mature rated game, and as showen (sic) here in the inmate handbook sanctions for a general offense,” says Hereford in his complaint.
It’s ‘Personal’
He lamented that he likely could not get another PlayStation in the remaining decades of his sentence. Hereford was sentenced Nov. 13, 2013, in Fremont County District Court.
Hereford said while he was in lockdown, he heard inmates coming from the Torrington facility saying other inmates had gotten their PlayStations back in 60 days or less.
“Everyone who had there (sic) Play Stations confiscated have received them back,” Hereford said in his complaint, adding that he thinks there are “personal reasons” he doesn’t get to have his PlayStation.
Hereford alleges that he “is forced to suffer for a punishment that … does not fit the crime and is being denied property that was legally uptained (sic) and was confiscated.”
Should be breaking rocks, not playing video games. Of course, if he had been executed, this nonsense would not have been an issue at all.
Just put a bullet in his head and get it over with.
Another billionaire by jury.
It sounds petty and annoying, but yes, they should have returned his PlayStation after it had been inspected. That is his personal property. If the game console had been lost, destroyed or stolen, he should get paid for its replacement.
I don’t usually side with inmates for much, but I do here. Those personal gadgets probably help to keep these people sane.
the DOC should counter-sue him for being an idiot
Reality can often be stranger than fiction.
Bet the guy he murdered wouldn’t have minded playing PlayStation right now.
yep, should be HARD labor all day every day.
what the hell is this sit around and play video games crap? that isn’t JAIL!
Having done time more than a few decades ago, I can attest (oh, btw . . . I was guilty) . . . to the the mental turmoil of a free nature now caged and very limited to exercise my brain besides reading . . . . (we didn't have TV's or stuff they have now), and in my opinion, ESPECIALLY Now that I am somewhat addicted to computer communication (like here, right now) and video games . . . . IF a Playstation is an allowable privilege and I've done nothing to jeopardise that, it should be returned . . . an' to the law an' order freaks ? . . . kill me now or allow what life I can live until then . . . . my brain is pretty much a prison in those circumstances . . . . my 2 cent's worth.
I rest my case!
Maybe he should get a taste of his own medicine? Give him something to REALLY complain about, huh?
Fire up ‘ol sparky.
Start on ‘low’.
I remember the uproar in the 70s when our inmates got TVs in the cell. Suddenly the dayroom was much quieter and more inmates locked it up early. overall easier to manage the place.
Given what he is in for, I think "sanity" went away a long time ago
A man serving between 50 years and life in the Wyoming prisons system for murdering a man and confining and sexually assaulting a woman
Make him the play station
Modern day prison is sounding more and more like living in Mom’s basement.
We allowed America to get INto this mess and it is our responsibility to correct it
No kidding.
Spending his time playing games
Prison should be hard
He’s a life for MURDER
I don’t give a crap if he’s uncomfortable
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