Justice and Healing for Roland: Support Needed

My brother, Roland, was 19 years old when he volunteered to protect his country. The United States Marines put a gun in his hand and sent him to defend his country.

Roland was trained to shoot his gun, but a soldier isn’t just an extension of their weapon, they also have a moral compass they struggle with after firing that weapon. The scenes of his mission are replayed every time he closes his eyes. Roland has struggled with PTSD for over 25 years. He received no transitional assistance after he was discharged from service following his enlistment period. He was simply one day a soldier and the next a civilian living in a civilian’s world. This new world had no idea of the horrors he witnessed during his service to his country. He turned to alcohol to numb the pain of his physical injuries and to wipe away the scenes he still sees every time he closes his eyes so that sleep could come. Navigating the VA system is a nightmare of its own.

My brother lives very remote. On April 27th my brother experienced a mental break, and a welfare check was called by our brother who lives out of state. The welfare check resulted in the sheriffs’ deputies shooting him 3 times. One shot grazed his head, another went through his armpit (his hands were in the air), and one shot went through the bottom of his foot after he was down. They were thankfully not life-threatening injuries; however, he has little feeling and strength in his right hand. Roland is an artist as well as a tool and die maker, so his hands are his livelihood. He also has over $70,000 in medical expenses.

Roland was admitted to the VA hospital after a temporary hold at the University of Louisville Hospital. He was released after about 5 days as he was no longer considered a threat to himself or others. He then sought residential treatment at a VA center that specializes in PTSD that until this incident he was unaware of. He was waiting to be medically released for the injuries sustained from the gunshot wounds, to be admitted into the program. He had appointments scheduled with a neurologist but was arrested and charged with 1 class 5 felony and 2 class six felonies and is being held on a $250,000 bond before he could meet with a specialist. So far, appointed counsel has encountered barriers to a successful defense of the case in court and has been unsuccessful in attempts to provide Roland the medical help he needs. Roland’s family reached out to his mental health providers with the VA who wrote a letter advising the court of the treatment program he has been approved for. At a bond reduction hearing, the Judge denied the motion finding he was a risk to others due to his mental health, contrary to what the VA psychiatric hospital determined. My brother has no other criminal record other than a DUI.

Our family is seeking help in retaining an attorney who will have the resources and experience to provide the best possible defense and to secure treatment to Roland. My brother needs to be released so he can get treatment, not be punished for the mental and physical injuries sustained in serving his country.