HAilE LONG

We are writing this petition in the hopes of Haile Long receiving a reduced sentence and, most importantly, the sentence being given with the overall benefit of future generations in mind.

In a Star Press article Judge Richard Dailey once said that Mr. Long had “a million-dollar personality”, and we wholeheartedly agree with that assessment. Throughout the lifetime that we have known Mr. Long he has continuously displayed that personality, and subsequently won the hearts and minds of others, even though it was sometimes to his own detriment.

Mr. Long has rallied the community through his love of music and given back to the communities in Muncie, Anderson and Kokomo in more ways than we can outline in this petition. He has been an ongoing member and advocate for the Whitely Community Clean-Up. He has invested countless hours to youth sports in our community, and he was a member of Deliverance Temple Church.

Former New York City Police Chief Bernie Kerik, who himself was a convicted felon, once said “If somebody told me I would go to prison and meet some really good people, I would have laughed in their face. The reality is, I met some really good men. Decent men. Good fathers, and good family men.” He continued “We’ve got to create alternatives, and we have to stop putting people in prison that don’t necessarily have to be there to learn their mistake.”

Yes Mr. Long has made mistakes, but he embodies what former Police Chief Kerik spoke of: he is a family man, a decent man, and a good father to his kids; and we believe that he does not need to be put in prison to learn from the gravity of his mistake.

We admittedly are not in a position to dispute the matter of his guilt, however we feel that there is a greater good that a person of Haile’s skill, personality and attributes can offer to our community, our youth, and society as a whole.

It is our belief that the best way for Mr. Long to repay his debt to society is through utilizing his skills, personality, attributes and charisma to invest in our youth.

We believe there is no better person to be a teacher, mentor, advocate and counselor to reach the youth of our community and sell them on the idea of choosing a different path than the one he himself chose.

We believe that Mr. Long and the lessons he has learned can impact and potentially save the lives of youth in our community, and that there is no amount of years or price tag that can equal that.

We believe that locking him in a cell for a lengthy prison sentence takes away the greatest gift that he could give back to society, and that is the gift of education and enlightenment to the youth of tomorrow.

We believe this because, despite the crimes he has been found guilty of, we believe in Haile Long, and we are petitioning you to believe in him as well.