Los Angeles, Ca. -- Jason Paschal, an African-American man accepted a plea bargain in a case where he was approached by a man angry at him for making inquiries, and defended himself with a table leg. Paschal was charged with assault, but despite having a good self-defense case, opted to accept a plea. On June 2, 2009 he turned himself into the authorities to serve his 6 month sentence.
Jason has been a brittle diabetic since 18 months old. Included in his case was a court-order to provide him with proper diet, insulin, and medical care for his diabetes. WIthin 24 hours, Jason had been denied both food and insulin and his blood sugar shot up to 400 mg/ltr.
He has had multiple seizures since incarcerated, and fell off a bench possibly breaking his arm. He was not treated for five days. When he was finally taken for medical treatment, he had a seizure while handcuffed to a hospital gurney. When he came to, he was confronted by an officer who threatened to taze him.
This morning, Jason reports that he caught a guard trying to plant contraband in his cell.
Jason's mother, Jan Paschal, a former aide with the Clinton Administration, contacted the ACLU of Los Angeles and they came to investigate. Jason reports that since the ACLU visit, "the abuse is much, much worse."
Jan is beside herself with worry. "They are either incompetent or they are engaging in torture. There is no other explanation. I worry whether Jason will survive this jailing."
Those who want more information or can suggest another avenue to address this abuse which is occurring right now within the Los Angeles Old County Jail, please contact me by e-mail at
becky_johnson222@hotmail.com.
I have previously written on the case of Jason Paschal, a street entertainer and tarot card reader of both Santa Cruz, CA. and Venice Beach, CA who has withstood police abuse, racial epitaphs, and claims to have knocked the face off the State of New Hampshire when the "Old Man of the Mountain" slid off into rubble as he was flown from California to New Hampshire by NH marshalls back to serve three more months of hell in subhuman conditions in a New Hampshire jail for a bogus marijuana charge.
Here is the link to "Freedom Man: All charges dropped against Jason Paschal"
found at:
http://huffsantacruz.blogspot.com/2008/04/freedom-man.html and
http://beckyjohnsononewomantalking.blogspot.com/2009/03/freedom-man-all-charges-dropped-against.html
I was just contacted by phone. Jason's mother, Jan Paschal said that despite a court order mandating proper food, insulin, and medical care while incarcerated, Jason is being denied basic treatment for a brittle diabetic since aged 2.
Jason's blood sugar level has skyrocketed to a dangerous 600 mg/100ml and he is having continuous seizures. Pascal voluntarily surrendered himself earlier this June to serve his sentence in an assault and battery case that occurred last year while he waited at his bus stop.
LAPD authorities need to investigate this case of abuse and neglect immediately!
Jason Paschal was released from jail yesterday morning (July 24, 2009) after having filed an official complaint re: the deplorable conditions he was subjected to while incarcerated. During his confinement, he was assaulted by a trustee in an incident where he was attacked while he was sleeping and his eye was injured, requiring hospital treatment. He claims that in addition to the assault, he was repeatedly served meat products though having requested a vegetarian diet. He was both starved and denied his insulin and at times suffered a blood sugar level of 600.
I had met Jason Paschal in the summer of 2001 and travelled with him across country. I pray he is doing well and finding proper support. He has the gift of charm and he is a respectful and kind soul as far as I remember. I pray he finds redemption from the abuse he has suffered. #blacklivesmatter