Locked In with Ian Bick - I Was A Teen Lifer Inside California Prisons.....Here's How I Survived | Angelica Johnson

Episode Date: January 19, 2025

Angelica Johnson shares her story of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, leading to criminal charges at a young age that turned her life upside down. She discusses her experiences in California’s prison system, the challenges of incarceration, and how she worked toward a second chance. Angelica reveals how her journey through the criminal justice system shaped her perspective, offering insights into prison life, rehabilitation, and the impact of second chances. This episode dives into the realities of incarceration and the potential for redemption after serving time. #25toLife #CaliforniaPrisons #PrisonStories #LifeInPrison #TrueCrime #PrisonSurvival #CriminalJustice #IncarcerationReality Thank you to MAGIC MIND for sponsoring this episode! Visit https://www.magicmind.com/ianbickjan to get 45% off the Magic Mind Bundle! Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Connect with Angelica Johnson: Instagram: http://instagram.com/iam.angelicaj Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/61571870423091/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yaknwangel?_t=ZP-8t0sBoX6f4Z&_r=1 X: https://x.com/iamang3licaj?s=21 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@myangeliclife?si=rPxTjwhvlUKWmVOC Presented by Tyson 2.0 & Wooooo Energy: https://tyson20.com/ https://woooooenergy.com/ Buy Merch: https://www.ianbick.com/shop Use code lockedin at checkout to get 20% off your order Timestamps: 00:00:00 Angelica's Iconic Courtroom Photo and Early Arrest 00:05:20 Family Background and Upbringing 00:09:19 High School Sports Journey 00:14:18 First Time Arrest Experience 00:19:57 Realization of a Fatal Incident 00:25:16 Life Inside Maximum Security 00:30:32 Discussing Trial Strategies and Attorney Relationships 00:35:28 Father's Unjust Involvement in Legal Case 00:41:08 Coping with Shock and Disbelief 00:47:00 Reflections on the Criminal Justice System 00:52:57 Emotional Reconciliation After Sentencing 00:58:31 Life in a Women's Prison 01:06:12 Overcoming Despair with Faith and Family 01:09:52 Winning the Motion Against the DA 01:16:00 Challenges in Mental Health Care 01:21:12 Overcoming Fear: Sharing My Story for the First Time 01:26:27 Kicking Off the New Year with Excitement Powered by: Just Media House : https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Creative direction, design, assets, support by FWRD: https://www.fwrd.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Thanks so much for being a supporter of the show and shooting me an email to come on today. You have an incredible story. I'd Google search your name like you told me to. And you have one of those pretty cool, I guess cool is not the right word, but you have one of those courtroom shots, like those famous courtroom shots. It's like those famous courtroom shots. Yeah. Yeah, that picture, I was like, so that was right when I got arrested.

So I was 18 years old and I had, wasn't I had the cord rolls in. Yeah. Yeah. You look 12 in the picture. Yeah, I'm just like, I was like, I didn't even know they took a picture that day. And that was actually at my bail hearing. So it was my very first bail hearing. And they were like, it's like 1.5 mil.

And I was like, that's why I was like sitting there like, what? What's going on? Yeah, you got one that's like iconic like courtroom photos. It's like that like Anna Delvey and all like just people had. Yeah. I'm kind of jealous. I didn't have a courtroom photo. Oh, yeah.

Because in the feds, I don't think they really allow cameras and stuff to record. I didn't think they did either, but. Yeah, some state trials are like televised and I don't know, it's just, I guess every state is different. But I don't think of the feds that they televise it. Yeah. Have you ever heard of Magic Mind? No.

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So if you need to help sleeping at night, they have a sleep one. and if you order like the bundle pack that they're offering with my promo code right now I think they combine it and send you both I'm waiting to get the sleep ones and to try but these are good and they're best served cold so you know give it a shake and give it a try I'm gonna have to try yeah you're gonna like it if you like macher mind lower stress and calm energy better than Duncan Macha Duncan is gross I can't do it oh yeah it's got a good flavor and that bundle pack I was just telling everyone about you get 45% off with a promo code Ian Bick Jan

and I'll have that link in the description of the episode too. Oh, for sure. But yeah, Magic Mind's been a huge partner in the show and these are really good. I used to see them in gas stations but not buy them. And then when they sent me these, I was like, this has got a good taste to it. You're like throwing them back now? Yeah. So I take one before every interview and kind of keeps me focused.

Yeah. So shout out to Magic Mind for sending these over our way. Guys make sure you try them. First drawer, it tastes really good. So you flew today from California. Yeah. You got the first tourist experience of Times Square for New Year's Eve. Yeah, we'll definitely be prepared for next year.

I was like, oh yeah, we need a ticket. We can't just walk in there. Well, you don't want to really sit there all day anyways. Yeah. I was seeing an article or a TikTok earlier about how people like plow through the gates get there like at 6 or 7 a.m. Just wait there all day. Yeah.

And they wear diapers and stuff. I did. I was like, yeah, I'm not going to wear a diaper. I don't want, like, adult diaper rash and stuff. So did you grow up in California, too? I did. So I'm from the Bayer, from Vallejo, California. I don't know if you've heard of, like, LaRestle or the singer her.

They are from Valleo, too. We actually all went to school together. So there's a lot of talent that's from Vallejo. So, yeah, I'm born and raised there. I come from a two-parent household. My dad is black, and my mom is actually. Filipino. Really?

Yeah. So I'm a little, I'm a little blasian, like Suede and all the other little blasians out here. Yeah, so I grew up with my family. I grew up with my mom's side mostly. My dad's side is actually from the East Coast. And my mom's family's

all in the Bay Area. So I'm really, really close to them. Filipino families are very, like, tight-knit. So they have been, like, they're my whole entire, like, sentence and just they just a really good family. I didn't grow up like in a bad environment. I'm from Vallejo.

It's not like the best city. But I didn't grow up like super rough. Do you speak any other languages at all? I don't. Okay. I know. I wish I spoke like to Gallag or something, but I don't speak anything just English.

There's nothing wrong with that. Do you ever think about if you grew up on the East Coast, like in your dad's side of the family? I do. I'm pretty sure it would have been like really different. cold cold yeah i probably wouldn't like it i'm not really fond of like the stone stuff but yeah i think it would be different um just because i don't know that site at all um and it's just like i guess kind of a cultural difference too so i could just just a little different but yeah the bay area gets a

little cold though right it does in san francisco it gets like really foggy but we don't get snow thank god yeah we don't get like snow well that's what they said in texas until they had like that blizzard or whatever that year. Yeah. So with all the global warming, you never know what's going to happen. That's very true. What did your parents do for work? Yeah. So my mom, she just worked in like insurance and type of thing. And then my dad, he just works in retail as a salesman. And I also have a younger sibling and he actually was working in film. And then he's looking for more work in film right now. So yeah. How far apart were you guys growing up? My brother is exactly five years younger than me.

So it's just me and him and I'm the oldest, the oldest sister. Are they like to say, like the oldest sister is like a boy. We're like, have all this, have to do a lot of stuff. Were you guys close growing up? Yeah, we're very close. We're like super close.

My dad always told us this growing up. He's like, it's just you too. So, yeah, me and my brother, that's like my little baby because it's just me and him. Or some of the family values your parents and still. than you guys.

Just my mom, she would always tell me to just keep things pushing. My mom, she recently passed in 2022, Juneau, 2022. And she was very just like move forward, keep it pushing. Don't look back. Whereas my dad, he gets caught up in his mind a lot. And we, which I do too.

I'm like, look back on the past. And I was like, no, like just keep going. which also helped me a lot when I was gone to just keep, you know, that perseverance. My dad, my dad told me a lot of stuff. I think because I'm also a girl and I'm his first baby girl. Just, you know, just respect yourself as a woman. Basic things, don't lie, respect people. He tells me still to this day, you know, love yourself first.

You know, you're the diamond. as a woman you just have to always remember to love yourself and you're not the two you're the one as he likes to say so those are a few things oh I'm sorry for your loss of your mom oh no worries thank you thank you but at least she was able to see me come home that's big yeah yeah especially given your story which we're about to find out seeing later in this episode yeah did you guys struggle for money growing up or did you have money no we had money actually. Not like super rich, but, you know, we were, we had Christmas toys. Like, I had a bike. Um, we didn't have like the water off. So everything was pretty stable and consistent. Um, yeah, I had a really good childhood, I would say. My parents, you know, they're not perfect like no parent is, but everything that they've done for me, I'm very grateful for. And I have no complaints with my childhood at all, really. Is there one thing you wish you could change about your childhood at all? Looking back on it now. Yeah, I wish I would listen to my parents.

They always tell you whether it has to do with life or if they're like, oh, that person is not your friend or just this is not the right boyfriend or whatever it may be. I'm a little hardheaded. I have to touch the fire to know that I'm going to get burnt instead of just looking at it. Yeah. Did you go to public school or private? I went to public school in Vallejo. I went to public schools my whole entire life. I played volleyball, actually.

You are a little tall, right? Yeah, I'm like 5-7. Yeah, that's tall. Maybe another inch with my little Tim's. You got the prison boots on. Right. That's hilarious. Well, those are the classy prison boots.

Those are like the ones you upgrade to. Right. Did they sell those on commissary for you guys? They did. The black ones when you go out to work, which, yeah. Good times. Yeah. Yeah, my.

I'm sorry, was the question where I got distracted from my boots. Public school. Oh, public school? Yeah, I went to public schools. And then I played volleyball. So I played sports. When I was young, I played like pal soccer. It's just soccer.

I played basketball. And then I got into volleyball when I was about 13 years old. And I actually had no experience at all. My mom, she just signed me up. And I was always very shy. And she's like, just try out. I tried out and then I found out I'm an abidxtrous so I get hit with both hands and they let me join the team. And then so from 13 until I was 18, I played volleyball in high school and also on a traveling team.

So it was year round. And it was like the best experience ever. Like sports was great. I don't know if you did any sports. I was a musical theater. Oh, that's still good. It's some type of, you know. I did do like pal soccer and basketball, Deo basketball.

for like the local league outside of school because I was never good enough to make the teams and I was always like last person picked because I was a little chubby, you know, nerdy kid, very, the least athletic person ever. Oh. I'm getting better at that. But yeah. Right, you're boxing.

Yeah. But I just wasn't that good. I could ball a little bit now. I can play basketball. I learned in prison. And I played, I was on the prison softball team. Oh, really?

I did the most sports ever in my life in prison. I'm sure. You got to buy something to do. Yeah. So did you want? want to go to college for volleyball? What were you thinking long term? Yes. So I actually was going to Pasadena Community College. And I, well, my high school year, my senior year, I actually tore my ACL in meniscus. So that made me like super depressed in high school. And then once I rehabilitated it,

I went to college and I made the team there. So I just played like a little like for a very small short of time at the community college, which is also the place I got arrested at at college. But yeah, so that's what I do. Do you have any problems in high school at all, or was it a pretty normal high school experience? No, it was pretty normal. Back then, I was very, like, bubbly and just, like, wanted to talk to everybody, kind of. I want to say I was popular, but I guess I knew a lot of people. I was very social back then.

And I played sports, so that helped a lot. But it was great. High school was fun. I don't have any complaints about high school, really. You know, it's cool getting to know the person before prison and then seeing how they come out after. And it's good to see that you still have like that kind of bubbly personality, like smiley, you know, happy because prison can change that. Yeah. I know in mine's situation didn't like damper my spirits, but for a lot of people it does.

And I think it's reassuring for like loved ones who have a family member in prison to see like someone like yourself get a sentence like you did at such a young age come out and still be able to, you know, smile about it at the end of the day. Yeah. Well, I can't now. Absolutely. So you go off to college, just run with it. Tell us what happens at college. Yeah. So I was there trying to study for kinesiology for like sports medicine.

And I was really only there for about maybe like six months. And then it just abruptly just stopped because I got arrested on campus. So I wasn't there for that long. Do you want me to go into like the, yeah? So, yeah, I was at college and then I was waiting for my computer class. literally like I just got out of my volleyball practice that morning because I had to go to practice at like five o'clock in the morning that I had a class after and I'm standing there waiting for my class like super sweaty like all dirty from working out and one of the detectives from Belaya all the way from Valaya and I'm in Pasadena they came there and he like walked around the corner he's like hello Angelica he's like turn your put your hands behind your back i'm like what he's like you're you're arrested you know what you did i'm like what like what then he's like we arrested your your dad too i'm like what the heck so

they arrested me and he's like um i'm like for what he's like for murder and i've just kind of lost it and um yeah so we left obviously i didn't go to class and we went to like some room and they put me in the room there for a little while. And yeah, he tried to, you know, they go through all the little things and they asked me, you know, do you want to talk to me, blah, blah, blah. I'm like, no. You know, I want my lawyer. And then I just waited and I went to L.A. County. So I was in L.A. County and that's what I got my hair braided before I transferred back to Solano. And I was in L.A. County for about three, four days. And I remember my bunkey. She was really sweet. And she's like, you're going to go home. I'm like, this is my first time here. She's like, I can tell.

She's like, this is my first time here. I've never been arrested before. I've never been in jail. And she's like, you're going to go home. I'm like, I hope so. And then they came to transfer me. She's like, oh, you know, they're like, roll it up, Johnson. And I'm like, oh, I'm going to go home. They're like, oh, no, we're going to drive you to the Bay Area. So that's... Ready or not, summer is coming, and Wayfair's Memorial Day clearance is on now. Right now through May 25th, get up to 70% off everything home at Wayfair. Plus, score amazing doorbuster deals all sale long and surprise flash deals on Memorial Day.

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No. Nothing. No. So they're just saying you got arrested for murder. Not for a murder, no. Did you know that you did something that could have led to that at that time? What's kind of like your mindset? Just like I knew that they could do like an after, accessory after the fact, but not

like a murder. I was like and premeditated at that like it was just like mind blowing really I just really couldn't believe that they arrested me for that really and that was my only charge

you know they usually give you lesser charges along with it but that was just it so tell us what happened that led up to that arrest yeah so I had a old boyfriend at the time. And we were messing around for maybe like a few months or so. We reconnected. I knew him from high school and then we reconnected. And he had a lot of stuff going on. And when I was, you know, I was very young and naive. I wasn't very aware. Like I didn't have like the

situational awareness and stuff that I developed when I was incarcerated. And I was, I was was at the wrong place, wrong time, and I didn't know what happened. And unfortunately, like, somebody lost their life. And they placed me as the alleged getaway driver. So they, he was the alleged shooter. Your boyfriend. Yeah. And he was the alleged shooter. And then they said I was the getaway driver. And then that's the whole D.A's theory that, that we robbed somebody. And it was like a robbery gone wrong. That's what they said. So, yeah, so I don't really know what happened. Where were you guys? In Valleo. It was in Vallejo. But like, was it at like a restaurant? Oh, no, no, no. It was at a jewelry store. No, it was no. It was out of park, actually. It was at a

park in Valo. It was like in the morning. And yeah, it was just really like the wrong place, wrong time. And it just like happened really fast. Did you know he had a weapon on him? No. And I didn't even know. I just met the victim, which was his friend. That was the first time I met him, too. Like, I only met him, knew him for like a month.

Yeah. And after it happened, did he tell you what happened? No. He just got in the car and said drive? Yeah, pretty much. Like, I didn't see any guns. I didn't see like all the stuff that they said he got robbed with. I never robbed anybody.

I didn't get out the car. I didn't see the shooting. Yeah, I was pretty much in the blind. Yeah, it was really the wrong place and wrong time. What did your parents think of this boyfriend? Had they met him or no? So they knew him from high school. They didn't meet him because he wasn't my boyfriend.

and we were like dating. A little situation. Yeah. A little side piece. A little, not the side piece even. Yeah, so they didn't really know him just from high school. And I didn't introduce him when we were having our little situation ship. And so, I mean, they had their opinions afterward.

But before that, no, they didn't really know him. Do you feel like a lot of people in today's world can get. put into that type of situation, especially women. Absolutely. And that's also like a big reason of why I want to share my story because when I looked it up online, at least in California, I said like 75% of women, at least with the law, I got sentenced on, which we'll get into later. They were like at the wrong place, wrong time.

Or they have a co-defendant where it's like the boyfriend did something and they're like, oh, the girlfriend's like a driver or she was there or accessory after the fact type of thing. And also I don't have, you know, like we said, like we said, I don't have like a background of, you know, robbing people or like, you know, I didn't have that. I didn't have like that pathway and roadway where you're like, oh, I could see her going to jail. It was like this was a huge shock to the whole city Because I'm not known for that So this could happen to any girl If you have a good family

If you have a good background It could just happen to anyone When did you realize that someone died And it was because of the guy you were seeing When they didn't get in the car So you knew right then and there I mean I put it together I'm like well he didn't get in the car

and I heard, you know, gunshots. So I was like, it kind of made, you know, it kind of made sense like, you know, nobody was coming back. And just the vibe, you know, it was like, go away. Like, we have to drive. I was like, well, where's the other person? Yeah.

Did you see it in the news that day of what happened? at all? No, I didn't see it on the news, but they had all the articles like when I was arrested. That's when I saw like the news and stuff like that. How much time passed between the shooting and your actual arrest? The shooting was in December of 2014 and I was arrested in March of 2015. So like a few months. Okay. And did you stop seeing the guy at that point? No, we were still talking. And he hadn't gotten arrested yet either. No, he was already in jail for something else.

Okay, so he was already jammed up for something unrelated. Yeah. Yeah. So you're thinking everything's good, and then all of a sudden you're arrested on campus? Yeah. What was your first conversation with your parents after you're arrest like? Oh, I remember calling my mom from, like, the Holden cell when I first got arrested. And I don't really remember talking to my dad.

I remember talking to my mom. and she was just, you know, pretty much hysterical. And we're just trying to figure everything out because we were all confused on, you know, the charges and just the whole process because no one in my family has ever dealt with the court system. Yeah, I was... She was just trying to figure it out, you know,

how to get me home, you know, do we need a... What's the process? Do we need a lawyer? Are they just going to drop the charges? Because are they going to reduce the charges? She was just, they were just trying to find help because we didn't know how to navigate the system and we're just pretty much in shock.

Yeah. You're probably the talk of the campus too, social media buzzing with your story. Oh my gosh, yeah. I heard a lot of stuff. I heard a lot of stuff. Of course, it was all happening. when I was incarcerated.

But I had a few friends, you know, that still talk to me when I was gone. And they're like, you know, we got your back. People are saying crazy stuff on Twitter or Instagram and all the social media platforms, which I understand because it's a, you know, I understand the situation. If you don't know what happened, then, you know, I can understand why people could just be like, oh, here's an article and just go off of that like we do every day. Yeah. No, that's a good point there.

Are you hesitant to share articles of people getting arrested now and, like, present time after this has already happened to you? Um, that's a good. I don't know. I don't really, I haven't really thought about that. Because you lived in that person's shoes, you know? Yeah. I definitely am not as judgmental as I used to be. I'm just like, well, you don't know what happened.

Like, were you there? You don't know what happened. Type of mindset, yeah. So after you get arrested, your transfer? from L.A. County to back to your county area and Vallejo? Yeah, so I was in L.A. County, and then we, so we actually went from L.A. County all the way up to Tachapi to pick up some guys. And that's like going towards Vegas. And it's like, maybe like three, four hours. And I thought they were kidnapping me because, and I remember the officer

because I was high risk because I had, because of my charges. And I remember when he, um, he handed. cuffed me and I had the ankles all the time. And he's like, if you run, like, I will shoot you. I was like, okay, like, where are we going to run to? So we went to to Hatchapie. We picked up those guys. And then I didn't know where we were going. I didn't know we stopped at other prisons and stuff. I was like, oh my God, we're going the wrong way. Like, are they kidnapping me? We're going like towards Vegas because I've drove to Vegas. This is the wrong way. And then we picked them up, went to Solano County. which is in Fairfield, which is the county that I went to.

And I was there the whole time in Max. So I did my entire county time in Max because of my charges. Even if I had good behavior and stuff, I couldn't be like a mod worker. Like, no, you're in here in Max, which was 22-hour, 23-hour lockdown. And then a lot of the people that were in Max, a lot of them were, had a lot of mental health. So I had like monkeys from Napa State Hospital or people that were like schizophrenic.

You know, people that just have a lot of, you know, really like mental health issues, which I've never seen before because this was a completely different experience for me. So, yeah, it was crazy. Like we'd hear people screaming or like banging all night, like butt naked, like fighting the police, screaming all night,

about demons or just like crazy stuff and then you kind of just get used to it after a while. Were you the youngest person in there? Yeah. Because when I was arrested, I was 18 and I was arrested four days before my birthday. So I got arrested March 3rd. My birthday is March 7th. So, yeah, I was the baby in there. So they tried me a few times because, you know, they're like, oh, you're the baby.

I was like. And these are older women that are trying you. Yeah. Everyone was older than me. Did anyone kind of like go up to you to help you out, kind of show you the way or anything like that? In county, I kind of stayed to myself, but there were, I met a lot of like nice people though. I haven't met like some people that were like my old friend's moms and stuff and they would like look out or like shoot me like some food or soap or something. And there was another girl that I knew from the streets and she was a model worker and she was like, you need to eat.

I would not eat the food for like a week or two straight. I just ate like straight fruit, right? So yeah, there was a few people in county, but I really met the people who supported me in prison. Were you denied bail at that point? Or were you awaiting a bail hearing? No, I had bail, but it was like, I think it was $1.5 million. And we couldn't afford it.

My parents and my family, they came together to try to, but it was just like... And you had to put up 10% of that or the full amount? I think it was 10%, but I just knew we couldn't afford it. So that's why I look like that in that picture. Yeah, they put you in the jail, black and white straight. Yeah, the real, yeah. What was your thoughts about prison, jail going into that environment? Did you know anything about it?

How do you watch TV shows? or movies? I've watched like, like the 30, 90 days in or something like that. 60, yeah, one of those numbers. Yeah, I've seen that. I think I watched like a little bit of like the orange is the new black. I have a cousin. I didn't have a cousin who was incarcerated.

He also had a life sentence, but he's in Pennsylvania. So that's completely different from California. And I would write him. So that was like the closest thing that I had to something personal with like prison and stuff. Other than that, no, not at all. How long are you in the detention center in the jail for before there's actual like court proceedings? In March, I went down in March. And then my first prelim was in, I think like May.

So like maybe like a few months. And then that was a prelim. Prelim didn't go well. And then I went to trial the next year. That was 2016. And then 2017, I had a mistrial. We filed for a mistrial. And then I had my sentencing.

So that was like the big court proceedings, you know, pre-lim trial. and the rest were just, you know, come back 90 days, waved off type of thing. Did you have a public defender or a paid attorney? I did have a public defender at first, but I had a paid attorney. His name is Kellyn Cooper. You have to meet him. He's my best friend. Like, I could call him right now and he all be like, like, Lee Kellyn, like say hi.

He's in Berkeley. I met him through my auntie, my auntie's, um, lawyer's friend. So it was like a family friend type of thing. And we actually couldn't afford him anymore, but he just believed in me like so much. Like he literally believed in me so much. He stayed. And we're still friends to this day. Like when we lost trial, he was depressed. He didn't go to another trial again after me. And then like when I came home, he threw a party, a huge party for me. All of my family came to his office. I worked at his law office as a, a, uh, legal secretary for a little while.

We actually just had drinks with him before we came out here to New York. Yeah. Did you tell him you were coming and did the show? Yeah, he's so excited. He's like, oh, yeah, go for it. He's like, let me know immediately. He's great. You've got to tell him to come on the show.

No, seriously. I'm like, Kelly. Like, he's great. We have attorneys on the show all the time. Yeah, he would, you would love him. He's like literally the best. Like, he's always like, I'm not just a lawyer. He's like, I'm your friend.

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You win? Must be 21 to enter. I have that relationship with my attorney. Invite me to a Fourth of July party this year. And, you know, I feel like when you're in a trial setting with an attorney, you spend so much time with them hours and hours. You really get to know a person. Yeah. And the same way goes with people you spend prison time with.

Mm-hmm. I think anyone in life where you're spending time with that person that closely, like a coworker or anything, you get to know the person. Yeah. And you get close with them. Yeah. Were you and your co-defendant on a joint trial together or was it split? No, so we ended up splitting it because he had some other like pending cases. And then we just thought it was best for like, okay, you know, BS charges.

Let's have like a faster trial because usually with like these type of charges, people usually, you know, push their case out for like a few years for, I guess, to make the case weak or whatever the reason may be. So this was a really fast trial for my type of charge. Had they offered you a plea deal before the trial at all? And I feel like, not I feel like, they basically blackmailed me. I did have it. I had a DA.

She was actually a woman and she was a black woman, which was kind of surprising to me. She was like after me. Like we tried to get a deal. I was saying, you know, like accessory after the fact, we would take that because technically like that's the charge I should have been charged with. And I was like, okay, I'll take that because that's what I technically did. but they wouldn't give me a deal unless, you know, I testified against my co-defendants. And I didn't know what happened.

So it didn't feel right to like, I was like, I'm not going to sell my soul to just say whatever you want me to say so I could come home. But I still don't know what happened, but you want me to say like A, B, C, and D. But it just wasn't right. So I went to trial. And that's the only. that was only deal they offered me. So that's why I feel like I was blackmailed. And even at my trial,

we asked to read the jury the difference between felony murder and accessory after the fact because they were very confused on the law of felony murder in California and they denied it. Even the judge was like, maybe we should read it to them

so they could understand because they kept asking like, maybe she's accessory after the fact. and the DA denied it, so we couldn't read it to them. And I think that had a really, really huge impact on my trial. If you had taken that plea deal for accessory after the fact, if they gave that to you without testifying, what would the time be in prison?

I believe the max was like four or five years. For accessory to the fact of murder? Yeah. Do you wish looking back on it that you testified? No. No. I did think about it a lot. like, what should I do?

I owe these people anything? Like they put me in a bad situation. But I would just think a lot about the ripple effect that I would have on people. Because, you know, that affects a lot of people. I have two co-defendants. Well, three, it's me. And then they try to charge, you know, like my father. and then my boyfriend, whatever, at the time.

And then there was another co-defendant, which was his younger cousin. And, yeah, I just, it wasn't good. Yeah, how did your dad get roped up into this? Why was he charged? So they charged him with accessory after the fact because my old boyfriend, he left like some bullets or something

or like something or like, some type of car. I don't know. I don't really know guns. He left something, one of those type of things, in the car. And then my dad found it. And I don't know, he like got rid of it or something or kept it or whatever. And I was texting my dad through the messages. And he's like, I found like some stuff in the car. Like, you know, he's like going going in on me. He's like, what is this? Blah, blah, blah. I'm like, I don't know. I don't know what's going on. And I didn't know there was stuff in the car. So the DA, saw the text messages and they're like, oh, her dad's accessory after the fact he hid the whatever, blah, blah, blah, blah. But really that actually had nothing to do with the case. It was like just some other random stuff in the car. So that's how they wrap my dad up in all of that. And what would happen to him?

So he had to do like, I think like a month in jail. So they gave me, he took a deal. And he just took a deal. like a month in jail, which was like the worst ever because it was the same jail. We were in the same jail. And he had never gotten into trouble before. Not that I know. Maybe when he was like juvenile, but no, like my dad's never gotten into trouble since I've

been alive. He's always just been a hardworking man, very respectful. So this was a lot for him. And along with that, my mom. mom was also sick when I got arrested. Her health started to decline. So she had like, when she was younger, she had kidney transplant. She had lupus and stuff before I was born.

And then that transplant started to fail when I was incarcerated and started progressively get worse. So it was a lot for my dad, you know, for him to deal with his daughter being charged, you know, with a murder. And then he has to deal with his case. He has to take care of his wife who's sick. He also has a son who's in high school that he has to, you know, tend to. So it was a lot of stuff that he had to deal with.

And it just wasn't right. Like, I was like, my dad, he doesn't even know what's going on. I don't even know what's going on. And they just pretty much wrapped it up. You know, they take what they want from messages, evidence, and they just say they have enough to. the judge and then it pretty much just gets approved type of thing. Did your brother and even other family members have resentment towards you for getting your

dad roped up into this? That's a good question. We should call someone. Not that I know of. I just recently, like, had a heart to heart with my brother because we haven't really talked about the situation. And I'm just very mindful of, again, the ripple effect that this has had on people. and, you know, my brother, he was working.

He was, he couldn't go to the high school he wanted to go to with his friends just because my, you know, my family felt it was safer for him to go somewhere else because of my case. And he was like, super bummed. It was a senior year. All of his friends were there. And I asked him, you know, if he had any resentment or if he felt any type of way. And I just apologized to him. Like, I didn't have any control over there. this, but nonetheless, I'm sorry that this affected you. And he said he didn't have any resent me.

He's like, you know, I understand, you know, it wasn't your fault. He's like, you know, it's good. So anybody else? No. All of my family members, whenever I see them, they're just pretty much saying, you know, I'm proud of you. And it's all love. I think because my family's built on love and we're very close. So were you, you were mentioning that there was a mistrial or you were filing for mistrial. So was the first trial a mistrial or did you lose a trial and then you moved for a mistrial what happened?

Yeah. So, no, we actually lost a trial. Trial was crazy. There was actually like a fight at like between like my side and the other side there was a fight during the trial, which the jury saw. Yeah, tell us about that. I missed it, but I came into the courtroom. And then it's another day for trial.

And then my lawyer's like, Kellen's like, did you hear what happened? I'm like, no, what happened? He's like, yeah, your cousin, they got into like a fight or something happened with both sides. And then I guess he said the jury saw it and just wasn't, it doesn't look good. So, yeah, that's what happened with the altercation. The trial, I think it was like a few weeks long. And the verdict, when it came in, they only deliberated for like three, four hours. So I remember sitting in the cell in the back and my lawyer's like, all right, we're going to go talk.

He's like, this is either really, really good or this. is really, really bad because it's so quick. It ended up being really, really bad. And they said I was guilty. So that is when we filed for mistrial after I lost trial. What were those thoughts going through your mind when you heard the guilty verdict? I remember screaming. I remember, yeah, I was screaming.

and just being like in shock. I was just really in shock. And I kept screaming. I think they wrote it in one of the articles. Like I was like screaming and crying. And I was like, they got it wrong. Like, no, they got it wrong. And I kept saying like they got it wrong.

And I remember turning back and looking at like my mom. I saw my mom. I saw my dad. I remember seeing my uncle. Like an animal. and I just remember like their faces. I remember the gasp from the crowd, you know, from the other side. It was a lot.

It was, I remember sitting right next to Kellan and Kellan's just like looking. He's just like looking like, what? Yeah, it was, it was really crazy. I almost can't explain it. it was just like such a shock. Yeah, it was very, very shocking. Now, as someone that was fighting their case from within the jail, like you didn't have bail, what was that experience going to trial every day?

Well, at first, I was kind of happy because I got to wear regular clothes. And then going to go. Going back and forth to court was exhausting. And everyone knew I was going to trial. You know, everyone, when you're on the bus, and then you got the clothes on. It was a lot. It was a lot of stuff going on. And I was younger.

So I think a lot of stuff kind of just maybe like went over my head. Like, this can't be happening. Like, there's no way that they're going to convict me or that this would happen. I remember all the people or, like, the guys and the girls on the bus. Like, you're going to be good. Like, don't worry about it. Like, I was like, I hope so. I hope so.

Describe that period of time from conviction to when you're actually sentenced because you're in, like, limbo. Like, you know you're in prison. You know you're stuck there, but you don't know for how long. Yeah. So for my conviction from when I got sentenced. So between that, that's when I have my mistrial too. And so after trial, I was broken, but not all the way. Kellen was telling me, like, we can have a mistrial.

There's a lot of, like, faulty things that happened during the trial. So when we went to the mistrial, and I, I lost that one. That's when I really lost it. And I kind of was telling Kellyn, like, at the table, I was kind of like, you know, F it, like, let me say what I want to say because I was just, like, over it at that point. I kind of gave up. I was like, are you serious?

Like, I can't get a mistrial. I just lost trial. They won't give you a mistrial. I had all these, like, you know, reasons, reasonable reasons. And it just didn't work. So when I lost my mistrial, they automatically sent me to like, not the suicide room, but like the hospital side where they could just put you on suicide watch. I wasn't like in the room, but they would just watch me for like a psych evaluation because of my charges. And I remember just like laying on the bed and like all these girls were coming in trying to talk to me.

like, are you okay? Like, you're so pretty. Like, it'll be okay. And I'm just, like, laying there. Like, I just hope this ceiling just falls on me. Like, I remember literally just laying there. Like, I hope this ceiling just fall on me. I remember looking in the mirror, the little dusty mirrors that we could barely see ourselves in and just, like, just looking at myself. And I was just, like, screaming, like, ugh. I just didn't feel good, like about myself, about anything. I just wanted to, like, go away. I was just lost. Like, what do I do, God? I was like, what am I supposed to do?

I didn't know what was going to happen next. I didn't know anything. It was, I felt stupid. I just felt really stupid. And the boyfriend at the time, he would always tell me, like, I got your back. Like, I'll speak up for you. I'll let them know.

you know, you didn't do anything wrong. And I was so young and I just, you know, believe. I was like, okay, you'll do it. And he never said anything until after, like, after his sentencing. That's when he actually said that I had nothing to do with anything. But, yeah, I just, I wasn't in a good headspace at all. But I held on to that little, you say, to have a faith, of a mustard seeds and that's all I had.

I literally just had the faith of a mustard seed and I just held on to that. Do you feel like the criminal justice system failed you? Absolutely. Yeah. I definitely feel like they failed me. I feel like I was used as an example. They like to do that a lot, especially with girls. Just to have an example, it's just another tally off the DA's list of so they could be a judge or whatever.

or be the top DA. And honestly, I felt a little bit more kind of not betrayed or just disappointed that the DA was a woman. I was like, maybe she'll have a little bit more understanding and a black woman at that. But that didn't work. Yeah. How much time did your boyfriend get? So he actually has, like, two other charges. So I think he got like 80 to life.

Yeah. Who got sentence first, Tim, or are you? I did. You did. Yeah, I was the first one out of everybody because we're trying to get my trial out of the way and just come home. And then he didn't, I, he didn't finish his case until, like, I think like last year he just finished his case. So it's been like years or the class year or two. Walk us through your sentencing.

What happened that day? The sentencing. So the family spoke, of course. And that was a lot. But I understood it because, you know, I've had family members that have been, you know, victims of crimes. And, you know, the mom, she. she wasn't she didn't sound resentful she just sounded you know sad um and she just had you know went on her memories and stuff um the grandfather spoke he was um a little bit more like an eye for an eye

type of type of vibe um as well as the grandmother um a cousin spoke um and i was a lot um you know having to sit there and just, you know, listen to them talk about you, but I tried not to take a lot of things personal and I still don't and I never felt any type of way towards the family or any of the loved ones of the victim because, you know, there was a loss of life that was undeserved, you know, It was undeserved uncalled for So kind of just took that on the chin when the family was speaking And then I was finally able to speak So I asked Kellen and I did speak on my sentencing

I asked Kellen if I could speak because It was the first time I could ever speak, you know, in court for myself And hear my voice So I was super nervous to speak I remember my voice was shaking And Kellen's like, he's like, slow down. It's okay. And I just was able to apologize to the family for myself.

You know, I always said, you know, I'm speaking about myself. Am I speaking for my co-definance or anything? But for me, you know, I'm generally just sorry for this whole situation. I wish I did know what happened so that I could have prevented this. and I made it very clear that I have no reason to lie. I said that. I was like, I have no reason to lie. Like, I just got 25 years to life.

I lost trial. I lost mistrial. I'm here at sentencing. I don't have nothing to lie about now. You know, whatever. And, yeah, so I was able to apologize to them and speak for the first time. And I also let them know that they got it wrong at the same time, you know, respectfully, that this is not the charge I should have got. And that was pretty much it at the sentencing.

Nobody else spoke like on my side. It was just me. And I think Kellan said a few words too, like this like the worst trial I had type of thing. And that was pretty much it. But I felt such a relief, honestly, and being able to speak for myself and actually apologize to the family and let them hear my voice,

because I didn't testify during my trial either. So that was like a really, you know, pivotal moment throughout everything because I just wanted them to hear it for me. You know, I didn't want them to hear it from Kellen or the judge or on a piece of it. a paper like I'm sorry or blah blah blah no I wanted them to hear it from me and feel it for me and I thought it was the best time to stay because like I just got life like what do I have to you know say to lie to you guys about or you know anything um and after the sentencing um at least from

what my mom told me um she said that she her and the victim's mom actually like hugged and And she was like, man, like, I wish, like, she would have said something earlier or just, you know, did something earlier, just something. So I felt like that was a good thing, you know, that they kind of came together in some type of way, at least had, like, a cordial, like a moment because it's, the emotions were very high the whole time and, you know, there was fight and stuff. So I think that was a big life changer, really. How much time of the judge sentence to you two? 25 years to life. And what was going through your head when he sentenced you to that? Honestly, I was just like, at that point, I was like, whatever,

because I already knew what the charges were. And I already knew what the sentence was. So I was just like. So it was just a formality. Yeah. I was like, all right, this is the only charge because I was like, well, this is what I'm fighting. So I already knew what the sentence was. What does a 25 to life sentence mean?

So 25 years to life in California, so you have to do the 25 years flat. And then you're eligible for parole, which nine times out of 10, you get rolled over, which is like another two, three years where you have to do. to go back to the parole board. So yeah, I would have to do 25 years, maybe go up to parole. So I would have been like 50 something. And then hope for parole. If not, then you just stay there for life. My overall max date was life. But with parole, so I had the possibility of parole. so it wasn't life without parole. But I was still a lifer. That's what they call me or they call you in prison.

I wasn't a short-termer or a long-termer. I was a baby lifer because I was young. That's what they would call me a baby lifer. Do you wish you testified at your own trial? I think it would have made a difference. Just to hear my voice. and to go through everything Yeah, I probably would have justified a trial

Just, I think it would have had a bigger impact on the jury And just so they could understand my side more And not just, you know, the DA's theory Ryan Reynolds here from IntMobil I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying It's not just for celebrities So do like I did and have one of your assistants assistants

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Yeah, if I go back, I'll testify. Where does a woman with life in California at your age get sent to? So in California, I believe, if it's still current, there's only four women's prison. So there's Chow Chow Chil, and that's where I was at. That is the only level four prison in California, and it also hosts Death Row. And then there's C.I.W., which is in Los Angeles. There's McFarland, which is like an open dorm, low-level, and then there's Folsom in Sacramento. So I was at Chowchilla, and that's where I did my, that's everyone goes there for receiving.

and because my points were so high and my sentence, my age, all of those factors into that, I was at Chalchilla for the rest of my incarceration in prison. What was that situation like going into that prison? Were you in a cell all day? What type of people were you around? Yeah.

At Chowchilla, it was so different from county. So when I left county, everyone that has been to prison, they're like, oh, like, prisons like Disneyland. I'm like, I'm like, really? I'm like, okay. So I get there, I'm like, oh, yeah, it is like Disneyland compared to county, right? So you can, I was able to go outside. I was, I wish I had a picture.

I was so pale. I was like your color. Oh, I'm white. I'm like Casper. That's how I was. Seriously, I was so pale. So when I got to Chachilla, I was like, oh, I was able to go outside. I remember being in the holding cell.

Even the food from the state prison was just better, just the regular, you know, food tray. It wasn't like slop. I was like, oh, it's like edible. I can go outside. I can wear real clothes. I can have a dove soap and, you know, real lotion. I didn't get any of that in county. And you can listen to music and stuff.

So, yeah, I felt like Disneyland compared to where I was at for three years because I was in, County for three years and max. So that was a huge transition from being 22, 23-hour lockdown to, you know, you can go outside and, you know, have some type of freedom. Were there politics with the women, like any gangs or any, anything like that? There, there was like gangs, like, you know, like the Crips and Bloods and like a lot of like LA stuff. But there wasn't politics like the men's. Like we didn't have like separated by like race, things like that. Like my cell was, it was eight women in there. And we had the bathroom in there and also the shower.

So it was just two bunks in like each corner. And that was a transition for me too because I haven't been around a lot of people, at least living with a lot of people. But I met some really, I had some really good roommates actually. my time in receiving for the first 90 days, it was actually kind of fun. It was just talk and just go outside. And I think because everyone came from county.

So it wasn't terrible, actually. Were you seeing any violence at all? Yeah. Yeah. I've definitely seen some girls get cut up with like a razor. And I was like, Um, seem like this girl get hot water thrown at her and then like get beat up with the cup. You know, like they have these just a mug and they just like they say cup, they cup you.

They just beat them up with the cup. Um, regular fights. Police come in. Throw the, um, the bomb. All the smoke goes everywhere. It's bear spray. Um, I've seen girls fight in the porter potty's outside. I've seen girls just fight just

they don't want their partner or their girlfriend to go home and take their date like you're not leaving me type of thing I've seen a lot of crazy stuff in prison how are the guards treating you were they kind of looking after you because of how young you

were did anyone take a liking to you not in prison more so in county because I was there for so long and all the CEOs worked there every day. There was like a few guards definitely four of them.

I don't want to like get them in trouble, but there's like four guards there in county who were like completely saddened by my case and they would talk to me and be like, Johnson, like you could be doing something so much better like you don't belong here.

They would always say that. Like you don't belong here. You know, just from the people they would see all the time. When I lost trial, I remember one of the guards came on. They're like, on the speaker. Like, Johnson, I'm so sorry. Like, I can't believe, like, you're going to get sentenced for this. I've had them come, like, to my window.

Like, they almost looked like they were going to cry, honestly. And when I got recented and came back, like, they were happy for me. Yeah, there was, not all of the CEOs were bad. Some of them were like chill. Some of them were assholes. But not all of them were bad. I wouldn't say they looked out for me, but they treated me with decency, for sure.

Did your feelings towards your boyfriend at the time change over time? Oh, yeah. Throughout the process. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Which was just a long journey with me and him, because, you know, we started off very, young together and we were friends before and this is the whole situation um i was just very

lost it was like the loss following the lost um because i would look at him like you need to say something you know you're the man you need to protect me like you need to speak up for me and um he couldn't do that um for his own you know reasons whatever And it was kind of, yeah, just like the blind leading the blind. And yeah, we just, I feel like we just had more of like a trauma bond. And at a certain point, it just felt like it was just us because everyone was gone. right I was like I have life

like no guy wants to come see me and like marry me not one that actually knows me maybe like a weird pen pal or something so we did keep in contact when I was incarcerated he had time to write I had time to write

we had you know the same stuff going on so we really kind of just I felt like it was like a trauma on. There was still like some love around, but it just felt like, um, we, like bonded over that. Um, and we just felt like we both didn't have anybody. Um, because we're like, we're both going to be doing time and we're just going to ride each other type of thing. And it just didn't work. It, I always felt like it wasn't right because I was like, obviously, this is not the person for me. But I guess the little lover girl of me was like oh maybe something something will happen but yeah i definitely changed over time

and i feel completely different now after you got sentenced did you give up hope um on any other appeals or outcomes or was there always something kind of keeping you in the headspace to stay in the game yeah um i did have some hope in the appeal process and and my i talked to my family all the time. And they always told me, you know, stay strong, don't give up. My dad used to tell me all the time, you know, you're a light. He's like, keep your light, you know, my little, my bubbly little self that I have to hold on to that. Because it was a place of darkness. So what ends up happening? I just kept going. I got an appeal. And I remember getting the paperwork and like to file it.

And they didn't deny it, but they just told me the process. And they said, you know, like, it's a 90% chance that you're going to lose. And that's when I would have to go pick up the mail when I was in prison. We never finished the appeal. But when I got that letter in my appeal lawyer told us, like, we might. win, but we usually don't. I completely lost it. I like gave up in the cell. Like I went to my cell and all my roommates and I would just like, I'm done. I keep my emotions to myself. I try to, especially in there. I'm just like, I'm done. I was like, I'm, they said we don't get in the pill. Like I'm, I don't

want to do this anymore. I'll just like, I give up. Like, I'm just going to be here. I was like, I lost trial. I lost my mistrial. I got sentenced, you know, appeals, they never go through. I was like, it's probably not going to go through, like, everything else. And I was just like, I don't even care. And I just broke down. I remember all my roommates, they're like, you don't

give up. And they were like, like, I'm not exaggerating, but like, the room was crying. They were crying. I was the baby. Everyone was like, older. Like, you could be like my daughter. I'm like, I know. I know. Yeah, it was

it was a lot. But I didn't give up hope all the way. I just had a moment. Like I said, I just had that little mustard seat of faith that I kept on to. And my family really helped to keep me going. And just my whole spiritual journey to help a lot. So what happens that makes it so you don't even need

to see the appeal all the way through? Um, the new law. Um, when I got resentenced on the new law, um, I didn't really focus on the appeal anymore. I was like, okay, there's a new law that I can get out on. And the appeal kind of went into the background. What I think I could still file my appeal to this day, um, for the charge that I, that I do have on my record. Um, but that also got expunged recently.

Oh, the actual. charter church got expunged? Yeah. So now you have no felony? Yeah. So I, there's another, right? I'm like, my cousin calls me the queen of the new laws. So I'm benefited from two new laws. So tell us about the first law that got you out of prison. Yeah. So the first law, so like I said in the beginning, I was charged with first degree premeditated murder in California. And there was a new law called SB 1437. And it basically stated that I'm not a lawyer. So you can look it up yourself. But it's a It basically stated that if you meet these three requirements, then you can follow the motion. So the first step is that you can't be the accused shooter killer.

So boom, got that checked off. The second one is you cannot be a major participant in the crime. So that's basically like how much were you a participant in the crime? Were you like the mastermind? Did you get the ammunition? you get all this stuff type of thing. So that one was checked off. And then the third one was, did you have a reckless indifference to human life?

So was like, was I just there wrong place, wrong time? Or was I in the message like, oh, yeah, we have to go do this and like shoot them? And we got to do all this type of stuff and just are saying like, you know, forget that person, you know, a regless indifference of human life. So I pretty much just checked all those three boxes. And we filed the motion. And, oh my gosh, Ian, I'm, like, getting excited telling me about this. Because I, the law just passed in 20, beginning of 2019, I believe. And I was following it along for it to pass in 2018.

And my lawyer was, my Kellyn, he was on it. He filed it immediately. I'm actually one of the first women in California to get resentenced on SB 1437. And I remember I called my mom. And it was just like a court date for the DA to reply to our motion. And I called my mom. And then I'm like, hey, mom. Like, how was core?

I was like, it's just another, you know, process. And she's like, she, um, what did she say? Not she appealed. She conceded. That's what she said. She's like, she conceded. She's like, she conceded. She's like crying. I'm like on the phone. I'm like, what? I'm like, who can see it? I'm like,

what does that even mean? Like, what is she? She gave up the DA about the motion. I was like, what? And she basically, that basically just meant that the DA didn't reply. And she basically was like, you won the motion and she just bowed out. So we were shocked because again, like she's been after me. Like, she is after me. So, um, that was like a huge, huge win. I couldn't believe it. I was like, I remember standing there on the phone. My mom was crying.

I'm crying. Like, what has conceded me? Like, do that mean? And, yeah, so she conceded to the motion. And I went back to county, to my county in March of 2019. And I got resentenced under the law. We won the motion. And I got resentenced.

from my 25 years to life to the lesser charge that happened in commission of the crime, which was a robbery. The DA's theme was robbery gone wrong. So I got resentenced to a 211 robbery. And the max was five years. And I did five years. So I came home in May of 2019, May 12th, 2019, which was actually Mother's Day that year. So I came home on Mother's Day

and that's how I got resentenced. And it's crazy to think if that law would have never passed, I wouldn't be here right now. I would not even be halfway into my term. That's crazy, right? It's crazy. Your life was so uprooted at such a young age. Was it hard to get back into a rhythm once you came home?

It was. It was very different. It was like all this. like Alexa wasn't around. I was like, what is it? I'm going to unplug this. I was like, um,

um, and just trying to figure things out. Um, with like jobs and parole and just, because I was 18. I didn't have a job and stuff. Um, or know anything.

I was just a college student. Um, I was rent free and stuff. Um, so just having to grow and, to, you know, like a young woman out here was a transition. Because I learned a lot and I grew a lot when I was, you know, incarcerated.

A lot of lessons that you wouldn't learn out here. But yeah, it was a transition. But I just kept going. I was busy the whole time. So I was on parole. And I had to have a job. So I was actually picking up trash like on the same. side of the freeway.

And we had like on those bright vests and we're all on like probation and parole. And I was a little chunky when I came home. And I remember all the guys are like, you're on parole? Not a probation. I'm like, yeah, I'm on parole. They're like, oh, you were in prison? Yeah, I was in prison. So I did that.

And then when I was picking up trash, I actually met this man named Terrell Baker, and he was like the manager of the job. And he was like, hey, like, you know, you look like you should be doing something else. I'm like, oh, yeah, I'm very organized, all of all this stuff. And he introduced me to a program called Year Up. And it's like six months of college and training, like in the project management track. And then after those six months you earn an internship for like one of the tech companies based on your skills. So from that picking up trash job, I went into the Europe program and I went to school for like six months.

I got an internship at Airbnb. So I was at Airbnb as a recruiting coordinator for like six months, right? It's like I'm like all over the place. So they won't rent to felons, but they'll hire the felon to work and recruit. Exactly. Good for you. Right? I was like, oh, yeah. They don't even know. Yeah. Was it hard to like date with having those negative articles written about you? Yeah, maybe. Yeah. I didn't date a lot of people like that didn't know me. Like the people that I did date, they already knew my situation.

And it wasn't like hard or anything, no. I think because they knew who I was before the situation. And they know me and they're like, that's not you. So, no, it was never like an issue, no. What were some of those lessons you learned in prison that you were referring to earlier? Really? definitely not to judge people. It just really opened up my mind of just, you know, don't judge others and just, you know,

seeing all those people, especially in county of the mental health, like really opened up my eyes to how they just treated everybody. Like they don't get real mental health help. They just throw them in a cell. or just dope them up on meds. That was a lot for me to take in in a way. It's really just like basic stuff. Just being respectful to others.

Mind your business. Find your business. Yeah, and just keep persevering, really. You just got to keep persevering and holding on to that little bit of hope. To stay alight, stay true. to yourself. Be very aware

and just, you know, trying to learn people's body language and learning how to live with people was a big lesson. I never lived with people and living with seven other women. You can be very emotional. So, I have to learn

a lot of lessons. It's just like, we're all going through something. We're all here. We're going through something to just not, try to not take things personal. I had a lot of spiritual growth. I don't have a religious background. So I just learned about like kind of all the religions I tried to.

And just read my Bible and I started to practice gratitude every day. So that was something that I implement to this day, which was like, I guess a good spiritual lesson for me. to just have you read the secret? No. I've heard of the secret. I haven't. It's basically just like the laws of the universe, you know, the type of thing.

And the secret and the magic book is a 30-day practice of gratitude. So you wake up in the morning and you like write 10 things you're grateful for. Like, I'm grateful that I'm meeting with Ian today because this is amazing. And we're having a great story. and you just write 10 things in the morning start off with gratitude my bunkey actually started to do it with me and um and just have another um gratitude um practice throughout the day so um that helped me a lot too um to change it really changes your mind frame especially in there um you have to have to have something positive to look to and have some type of at least for me have some type of you know spiritual like just something you could

hold on to so you can feel better. And if things were just better, it's just change your mind. You're focusing on the good things. There's still a lot of things to be grateful for despite the circumstances. And yeah, I just,

I really just felt better. Like, it was just a mind, a mind, shift, really. Tell us about that second law that got passed that got your record expung. Yeah. So the second law, it literally like just passed this year. I don't recall the what. USAA knows dynamic duos can save the day like superheroes and sidekicks or auto and home insurance. With USAA, you can bundle your auto and home and save up to 10%. Tap the banner to learn more and get a quote at usa.com slash bundle.

Restrictions apply. Motion and stuff it is or which law it is, but it's a new law where basically, if you have not been in trouble since your prison sentence, and they feel like, you know, you've been doing good, then you can automatically qualify for an expungement. So I've been doing everything, and then since I've been home, and we followed the motion. And the judge, he literally was like,

waved in hand, he was like, granted. I was like, I was nervous, because I think it's just a court process. I was very triggered actually when I first went to court because I've never been to court from the streets. So that was completely triggering. But yeah, he just waved off. He was like granted.

And so Kellen was there. And it was great. It was, and I got, it expunged. So I don't have a murder on it because that was already for my first recent. sentencing. So it was just, it would just be the robbery on my record. So that is now expunged to. So now I don't have anything. Now, was there a follow-up article when you got your record expunged? Did the news reporters reach out and do like a piece on the whole situation and explaining your

side of the story? No. But when I first came home and got resentenced on the first law, a reporter did reach out to me and was like, hey, you know, we want to talk to you about it. And I think there is an article that says like, oh, Angelica Johnson got resentenced on SB 1437. But I denied to talk to them because when I first came home, I was a little bit more, way more reserved. And I just felt like they shouldn't know my story. I was like, they wrote all this stuff about me. And I was like, now you want to hear me? I said, no.

If you want to hear me, then I'll do it on my own. own. I'll do something like this or I'm going to start my own podcast instead of just, you know, having the Vallejo Times Herald, you know, write about me again. It's like, I don't know. I feel like they didn't deserve it. And I didn't want it, I didn't want anything else to be misconstrued. And I just felt it would be better to hear things for me. I think it's kind of wrong that they still leave those articles up there too. It's honestly like so embarrassing. I was like, oh, Like the picture. And it's like a lot of articles.

It's a lot of articles. Yeah, they're all still up there. You know, the Internet's forever. What gave you the courage to decide to tell your story for the first time in this type of setting? Honestly, I've been wanting to do this since I came home, but I was so, you know, apprehensive and scared of what people would say. I was fearful of like people judging me or just. I didn't want to trigger like the family or like, you know, any of the loved ones. But I just had a lot of growth that I had to do.

And my man's that came with me, he motivated me to come and to come and share my story. So that's, honestly, that's really what put the fire up under my butt to come out here and just really, know, go for it. Because I had all the ideas, but I'm like, should I do it? And I did it. Like, when I first came home, my friend La Russell, I don't know if he's the artist in In Vallejo, but he's like, you got to shoot. This was in 2019.

And now I'm like, I'm finally doing it. He's like, finally. So it's a long time coming. It was just me versus me. And I understand that it's not just sharing my story, but this could bring a lot of hope to a lot of, um, a lot of women, it showed light on the system.

It could just give hope to anybody, even just one person, you know, who's either incarcerated or a family member that has someone incarcerated or a situation like mine. It can prevent, you know, a parent that has a young daughter to see their red flags or just,

you know, this could happen to you too. You have to be careful with who you're dealing with. and just be aware. Yeah, so kind of doing it not just for me, but for the people. Tell us what you have going on now in your life and what you're looking forward to in the future. Yeah.

So right now, I'm working on a podcast. I just want to continue to give more information, I guess, about my story or just it could be serious stuff. It could be like the funny jail stories that people like to hear. care about or whatever. So I'm going to do that and continue to build my platform. And I'm working on a nonprofit. It's still in the works, but I'm working on a nonprofit for people that were incarcerated to come home and they have, you know, job preparation. When we come home, at least in California, or when I was on parole, they're like, okay, here's some resources, but they're all

job fares and there's not really anything to prepare you for the jobs like there's no resume building there's no a lot of people don't know how to use a laptop or a phone um cover letters or just regular how to interview with somebody elevator pitches type of thing all of the things that um i learned over the years and at my the program that i was in um that is what i am going to base my nonprofit around so people can be prepared um for these jobs, if that's what they would like to do. And that is what I'm planning for my nonprofit. So there's a lot of people that need help, you know.

And there's a lot of people that want to change their lives. But we don't really have the resources. They're just like, go do construction or, you know, do lashes. It's like, maybe I don't want to do that. So I just want to kind of open up the door and just at least give them the resources and prepare them if they want to take them. next steps. Because if I could do it, then someone else can do it with the record or not. It's just how you present yourself and what you put out. So I'm looking forward to that. And I'll definitely

be coming back to let you know. Anybody needs some resources. Hit me up. I love that. And I wish you the best of luck with your venture. And thank you so much for coming out here today and sitting down with me for the first episode of the year. Yes. I'm super. excited. Thank you. Yeah. Great start off to the new year, literally on January 1st. Like, what? So, yeah, I'm so excited. Yeah, you did really well. Hopefully, uh, it helps you. You know, it's therapeutic sitting down and talking to someone and sharing the story. It is. It is. It is. It's like, it's like, are you nervous? I say kind of, but I'm really just excited. Like, I'm just excited. Yeah. Good. Well, you did a really good job. Oh, thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Of course. And safe travels back to the warm weather. Amazing. Thank you. Thanks.