Throughout history a caste system of justice has been created, separating those who receive fair and competent legal representation from those who cannot afford a qualified defense. The presumption of innocent until proven guilty has been overshadowed by the presumption of guilty until proven wealthy. Just as disturbing is the desire to turn mundane cases into headline grabbing stories that convict people in the court of public opinion rather than a court of law. These individuals become fodder for a media enamored prosecutorial system that finds 15 minutes on television and a quote on the front page paramount to seeking the truth.

This story is yet another tragic tale of a flawed system. A young man is arrested, locked up and forced to post an exorbitant bond while crack users and repeat offenders are released on their own recognizance. The terrible crime that received no slack from an over-burdened criminal justice system amounts to nothing more than alleged prank phone calls. A misinformed New York media salivated with delight as they nurtured the alleged scandal into the crime of the century. No one spent a moment verifying if the arrest was justified. Even a cursory study of details would have concluded that a malicious conspiracy was developed and augmented by a scorned lover.

The events of February 2006 have been the catalyst for this tragic tale of betrayal, exploited by the criminal justice system in the worst way. As readers are guided through daily accounts of investigative findings, nights in jail, and court proceedings they are forced to ponder:

1.     How often does this type of injustice go on in our legal system?

2.     How often do law enforcement officials and prosecutors find the need to cover their failures more important than allowing the truth to unfold?

3.     What does it say about the integrity of a system that strips a human of his constitutional rights while the legalities of their actions remain unchecked?