Time at Cimmaron:
My time spent at Cimmaron was interesting. I have not ever been or experienced incarceration. So when I finally went beyond the cages of a former State prison now Federal Correctional Holding facility was very intimidating. I did not have anything to compare to it nor did I have any preconceived ideas as to what to expect… My journey to Cimarron began with an extremely early morning bus ride. It was very unpleasant especially whiles being shackled the entire time hands and feet. The driver was driving dangerously fast on windy- back country roads that had excessive bumps & we had no seatbelts. I was absolutely terrified. The booking experience wasn’t too shabby compared to Fannin County Jail… it was quickly handled and we were transferred to a pod unit within the same da( handful of hours). The officers booked me into a B-Norh unit. Instantly, I was nervous to be mixed in with a vast amount of medium and high Crime guys… I felt this was very unfair for me “pending pretrial” for several reasons. By my first couple weeks the inmate in my room plus the two neighboring rooms were filled with the smoking of Street drugs. Due to the fact I am an asthmatic I had to secretly complain to the guard. He said he would look into it, but never did… the smoking went on non-stop causing me to use my inhaler every few hours which is not a norm for me. I requested to my cellmate to consider my condition, but he said,”Oh well”. This left me no choice except to complain to the unit manager because it finally reached the six week mark. My roommate was smoking in small groups in our room. At night he would fall-out flapping & come back to life again, it was scary. The guys next door I think was selling it to him because they had also sold him home-made alcohol too… I eventually shared all this to the Unit Manager officer Yogi, she responded back telling me she would pay closer attention, but insisted I also put in a complaint forum. I explained to her that I did fill out a few forms and preferred to move to another room. She then said she would look into it… Next day the leader on the African Americans called a meeting & all had to attend. They circled me and said the leaders of the Mexican/Hispanic American group got word from officer Yogi about my complaint
the Unit Manager told the inmates exactly what I told to her in confidence. The African American leader & group said if I didn’t leave either they will beat my Ass or the Hispanic American group would stab me by knife so it was best for me to pack up and leave that unit immediately. Originally, I told the leader I wasnt moving but my roommate also turner against me so I fearer for my safety if I slept.
I was then moved to the “C- south” unit and by my second week the rumor followed. African American guys attempted to bully me, but I stood my ground and kept to myself…I was roamed with a “transsexual man” he had breast like a female & squatted in reverse each time he urinated. I was petrified to say the least…he too was uncomfortable. So after being roommates for two weeks the Unit Manager finally got tired of my complaints and moved me to a different unit… I was alone there for about a week before another guy was roomed with me… he too a street drug smoker and after may complaints to the Unit Manager Solis, he moved him after week… two weeks after I was hired to work in commissary… I was thrilled to get a job and was moved to a special unit, known as the “Honor Dorm” which was located in the “B-south” unit. Unfortunately I was only there for about one week and half because the leader of the African American group called a meeting. He stated there were guys now in the “B- South” unit who came over from “B- North” next door unit that shared I was named a “Snitch” and too friendly to the guards. The group also stated I told Unit Manager about drugs and therefore I was not welcome to stay. They too surrounded me I threatened to kick my ass physically out the unit or I can leave now freely. I didn’t hesitate to pack and move… the next move landed me at “A-south” unit.. seriously within 24 hours the leader of this unit fathered everyone of the African Americans in the day room circled around me. He said a rumor followed me and they are all aware of me switching from unit to unit about me telling guards about drugs etc. The group said they would watch me like a hawk, but I wasn’t allowed to speak to any guards without a leader present. This went well up until it was time for me to transfer back to Fannin County for court. This wall all of my moving shuffle, however that’s just the surface of things I experienced.
I witnessed various types of drugs throughout every unit I was in… in fact in “A-South” unit the guy in my room was caught with a paper drug according to the guard during our routine room search & I had no idea if he smoked or not… I have never used of seen drugs so Iam not familiar with all the looks and names. What I do know is I have witnessed more than twelve guys flop as if they were possessed by a demonic energy/spirit. Nurses stretchered out almost two guys every couple days for drugs. I am traumatized because I have never seen anything like it, even on tv. The violence of fights at least two of those happen weakly from guys being jumped in group/racial fights, to also stabbings with home made knives…drunkenness from house made alcohol, guys were drunk daily. I witness 2 deaths – one from fentynal overdose and another from suicide. I witnessed one hispanic group jump and brutally beat a mexican guy… I had a few guys ( not counting the leader gatherings) attempt to bully me for tablets and phones. A few guys tried to stand up against taking orders from a guard so a ‘code’ was called for the entire Unit “A -South” of over ten guards came in with mask shooting pepper guns, etc… the guy next door to me was struck…… then they cuffed him along with two others… due to how close the shot was the pepper spray effected my asthma for over a week it lingered. It was miserable,j no exaggeration… Although I had never been in such a high stressful environment nor such an unsafe one it wasn’t all bad experiences. I enjoyed working commissary even after seeing several guys get fired for stealing and no showing… I also enjoyed the rec time I walking for “chow time”. It was nice to get multiple opportunities walking outside.. the food was not always bad. I enjoyed having many chances & places to workout my fitness or even run… In conclusion, Fannin county for Cimarron are certainly no place for me to ever be again or any correctional facility for that matter.. I do not understand why they mixed me with such violent crime individuals and unsanitary places… the two facilities both had filthy air ducts in air units. the violence and drugs even at Fannin county really needs to be addressed.. thank God I am still alive & have not had to actually fight due to my ability to avoid conflicts, and conflict resolutio. However, I for sure can not belittle the trauma from these facilities especially after the two times agents pointed assault weapons at me in this country.
