Special Feature

August 20th, 2009

A Message To Our Readers

Long time readers of The Paper will remember our coverage of Richard Keech, the Marine who shot and killed the abusive husband of his daughter. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to prison. We believed then, and we believe now, that Mr. Keech received far too harsh of a sentence for protecting his daughter. We also believe he had inadequate legal counsel. The most recent story we published can be read here, on our website:
http://thecommunitypaper.com/archive/2008/10_02/index.php

It is time for Mr. Keech to be forgiven of his sins and allowed to return home.

Richard Keech, K86028, will be 90 years old on October 27, 2009. He has been medically incapable for the past year. This is the 3rd request for a compassion release by the High Desert State Prison doctors. Richard is wheelchair bound, wears adult diapers, has only thickened liquids because of swallowing problems, and requires 24 hour nursing care. Late July, the HDSP doctor called the family about Richard’s rapid decline and determined
that Richard had a month or so life expectancy.

Mr. Keech has been in prison from Nov 1997 at the age of 78 years old. He has never been close to home. His current location, High Desert State Prison (HDSP), in Susanville, CA is 630 miles away from his wife, Kay Keech, of 60 years, who lives in Long Beach, CA. His previous locations were: California Mens Colony, Salinas, San Quentin, and Pelican Bay. Mr. Keech has been hospitalized for over two years. His wife was hospitalized last November, and has difficulty with the long commute to visit her husband.

Mr. Keech suffers from Peripheral Neuropathy, Eye Macular Degeneration, loss of ambulatory functions, major hearing loss, and swallowing control. Mr. Keech served his country in WWII and is distinguished with the bronze and purple heart medals among others. He was a WWII POW for 40 months.

In the prison system, Mr. Keech is well respected by both the prison personnel and the inmates. Everyone wants to shake Mr. Keech’s hand. He has always given away his books and newspapers (hundreds through the years) to other inmates, after he reads them.

Enough! Let this Marine return home and die with his loving family surrounding him. Please write or call: Paul Mones (Attorney-at-law), PO Box 10241, Portland, Orgon, 97296. Or email to: pamones@comcast.net. While you’re at it, you should fire off a letter to:

State Senator Mark Wyland
1910 Palomar Point Way, Suite 105
Carlsbad, California 92008
email: senator.wyland@sen.ca.gov
760.931.2455 Office -
760.931.2477 Fax

Assemblyman Martin Garrick
martin@martingarrick.com
DISTRICT OFFICE
1910 Palomar Point Way, Suite 106
Carlsbad, CA 92008
760-929-7998, 760-929-7999 fax

Your efforts could help this Marine come home so he can die in peace, with his family surrounding him. Thank you.