- We talked to him! -

yep, we got to talk to dustin tonight! -it was the first time, since he left the jail on febuary 11 & he sounded very good [praise the lord!] & seemed to be 'upbeat' - he said that he was told he was going to pendleton prison [don't know who told him] & that's what he's been thinking for all this time - well, the 'group' that came in together/same day, all started being taken in the night, 1 by 1 - there were only 2 from that group left & 1 of them was dustin - he was really wanting out of the plainfield diagnostic center [not the actual prison] & as we found out later, that it's a place that's so bad they make you wish you'd NEVER gone there [& for dustin...it worked!]

`

well, he said they called his name the other night [march 2] & said pack your bag, you're being shipped out - he said he was ready in about 10 minutes & was so excited just to be leaving that horrible place & being able to head to pendleton, that's only 20 minutes away from us & 2 minutes from my parents

`

they loaded them all up in the bus & as they were pulling out of the parking lot, they were told that they were transporting them to westville & he said his head dropped & his heart sank - he knew it was waaaaaaaay up north [that's what he'd heard], but he didn't know where so he asked - they let him know that it's about 15 minutes from chicago & from doing so many haitian adoptions & him going to chicago with us so many times to the haitian consulate, he knew we were over 4 hours from there, so he knew it'd be VERY HARD for us

`

he's in a level 1, so it's not too bad he said - the guys that are in there are really trying to do right as if you get caught in nonsense, you can be sent to level 2 or 3, on the other side of the wall - he said you can hear people yelling/screaming there all day/night long & he said it's horrible! - he said there's a cemetery right there behind the 'dorm'/level 1 that he lives in & when he asked, the guards said it's because there are so many killings there, they've got to bury them on-sight...UGH!

`

he's been told too, that since he's considered a 'short timer'/under 3 years, that he can request to be moved back to plainfield...not to the diagnostic center, but instead, to the prison

`

we also found out through calling the westville facility, that we've got to fill out/turn in paperwork & then be approved before we can go visit him - i called today to let them know that we sent our paperwork yesterday, so they'd be getting it any day [like they really care] - i said, "well, with you getting it any day, when do you think we'll be approved?" - she was very nice & said, well, after i approve you, it'll be about 2 weeks from then to get you 'in the system' - i said, "2 WEEKS, wow, i didn't think it'd take that long!" - she chuckled & said, "well, that's AFTER i approve you, but our approvals are taking between 8-10 weeks & THEN it's another 2 weeks or so after that [so they're saying i can't visit my son for anywhere from 8-12 weeks!!! UGH]

`

on a positive note, he did sound good & let me know he's where he's supposed to be [prison] & that he's taking this time to get where he needs to be with god & for that i'm thankful as that's what i've prayed over him for many years [but this' NOT what i had in mind!!]

`

also, i did find out that you don't have to be approved to write him, just to visit him - saying that, anyone that's willing to write him, you can go ahead & do it anytime - thank you for that too!

`

Westville Correctional Facility

Dustin Wayne Shepler #198634

5501 South 1100 West

Westville, IN 46391