Two days later, Ninemire arrived in Topeka to visit Trubey at her office. They then went to see Rogers and Ninemire thanked the judge for writing his letter. "It was such a happy time," said Trubey, who went "from the despair of seeing a client get 27 years for growing marijuana to the ecstasy of seeing him released after 10 years." His case was the only time in her 13-year career that she sought clemency for a client. Trubey said she wrote the letter seeking clemency "because he is so exceptional." Ninemire, who used his sentence as an opportunity to change, never blamed others for his predicament, unlike many prisoners, she said. He became a Buddhist and realized that until he accepted responsibility, change wasn't going to happen. "Peter learned that peace and contentment come from within, not from external circumstances," she said. In prison, he helped found an NAACP chapter; served as president of the Rocky Mountain Club, which sponsors activities for inmates and their families and acts as a liaison between inmates and the prison administration; and started a Toastmasters group for public speaking. Ninemire is proudest of helping to found the Jericho Road Youth Counseling Program to aid juvenile defendants and their families, she said. Peter has a "voice of credibility" with youths because he has been there and done that, she said. "He's emerged from the other side. His life has completely changed in the last 10 years." Ninemire trains other inmate counselors, and Jericho Road has been recognized by law enforcement officers and juvenile judges as the most effective youth counseling program in the Denver area, Trubey said. Said Judge Rogers: "I'm convinced he'll never be in trouble again. I'm convinced he'll be a valuable aid in the community. It was almost a miracle." Steve Fry can be reached at (785) 295-1206 or sfry@cjonline.com. Kansas man grateful for Clinton's action Ex-con free to help others Wichita man whose sentence was commuted now counsels youths, people with addictions Ex-con free to help others Wichita man whose sentence was commuted now counsels youths, people with addictions Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2003
Two days later, Ninemire arrived in Topeka to visit Trubey at her office. They then went to see Rogers and Ninemire thanked the judge for writing his letter. "It was such a happy time," said Trubey, who went "from the despair of seeing a client get 27 years for growing marijuana to the ecstasy of seeing him released after 10 years." His case was the only time in her 13-year career that she sought clemency for a client. Trubey said she wrote the letter seeking clemency "because he is so exceptional." Ninemire, who used his sentence as an opportunity to change, never blamed others for his predicament, unlike many prisoners, she said. He became a Buddhist and realized that until he accepted responsibility, change wasn't going to happen. "Peter learned that peace and contentment come from within, not from external circumstances," she said. In prison, he helped found an NAACP chapter; served as president of the Rocky Mountain Club, which sponsors activities for inmates and their families and acts as a liaison between inmates and the prison administration; and started a Toastmasters group for public speaking. Ninemire is proudest of helping to found the Jericho Road Youth Counseling Program to aid juvenile defendants and their families, she said. Peter has a "voice of credibility" with youths because he has been there and done that, she said. "He's emerged from the other side. His life has completely changed in the last 10 years." Ninemire trains other inmate counselors, and Jericho Road has been recognized by law enforcement officers and juvenile judges as the most effective youth counseling program in the Denver area, Trubey said. Said Judge Rogers: "I'm convinced he'll never be in trouble again. I'm convinced he'll be a valuable aid in the community. It was almost a miracle." Steve Fry can be reached at (785) 295-1206 or sfry@cjonline.com. Kansas man grateful for Clinton's action Ex-con free to help others Wichita man whose sentence was commuted now counsels youths, people with addictions Ex-con free to help others Wichita man whose sentence was commuted now counsels youths, people with addictions Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2003
Ex-Con-Free-to-Help-Others.docx