Re: Important NEW information about/from Matt Deatherage

[grady@netcom.com (Grady Ward)]

Grady Ward
3449 Martha Ct.
Arcata, CA  95521-4884
+1 707 826 7715
(voice / 24hr FAX)
E-MAIL: grady@netcom.com
 
 
 
 Judge Charles Gordon
 Judge of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County
 c/o Dennis Lempert
 100 Saratoga Avenue
 Santa Clara, CA  95051-7305
 
 
							15 Apr 94
 
Dear  Judge Gordon,
 
	I am writing on behalf of Donald Matthew Deatherage who is 
scheduled to be sentenced before your court in May.
	As a Senior Engineer with Apple Computer, I have known Matt 
since 1988. He has been uniformly friendly, knowledgeable, and 
helpful both professionally and personally. He makes a unique 
contribution to society as one of the half-dozen or so most 
knowledgeable people about the Apple ][ computer in the world --
the computer which is still most widely used in support of 
preschool and K-8th grade education. His contribution is invaluable 
in the world of computers.
	While the crimes with a minor which he has been adjudged 
guilty are reprehensible and he unquestionably ought to be 
punished if we value the protection of our children, I also believe 
because of the facts of this case that justice would be best served if 
Matt were sentenced to lengthy probation and community service 
rather than prison.
	I am writing from the perspective of a father of two young 
boys, Adrian, 5 and Isaiah, 3 and from the perspective of a person 
who was molested in fourth grade by an older boy.
 
 
Very truly yours,
 

-- 
Grady Ward  grady@netcom.com