On Saturday December 12, 2015, a 19 year old Rockford native Melvin "PJ" Gay made a terrible mistake. Drunk and disorderly, he walked into a woman's home thinking it was his own. When the woman tried to inform him that he was in the wrong place, he responded telling her that he lived there. There was an altercation when Melvin grabbed the woman out of reaction to her coming towards him. The woman continued to try to get through to Melvin that he was in the wrong house, but when he failed to understand, the woman called her daughter, who called her boyfriend, who called the police. The police arrived at the scene and detained him and charged him with Home Invasion, a felony charge punishable by 6-24 years in a federal state prison and set his bond at $300,000. The bond was reduced to $100,000 due to this being Melvin's first offense.
Keep in mind that Melvin did not enter the house with any weapons, or any intent to harm anyone. The boy was simply confused as a result of intoxication.
This is Melvin's first time ever being involved with the criminal justice system. He has never been in trouble with the law before.
At this time Melvin is sitting in a jail cell, fighting for his life. Realize that Melvin is not innocent, and he has well realized the severity of his actions. But also realize, he has never hurt anyone nor is he a criminal. This is how criminals are made. By taking kids and stripping them of their futures, adapting them to the living conditions of Jail and prison, and then sending them back into society to fail at adjustment, and end up right back in. Melvin is young and made a terrible mistake but he does not deserve the be made an example of by becoming a victim to the criminal justice system.
This petition is not to excuse his actions or dismiss his charges, but rather to reduce them. There lesser charges that could be implemented on his case that would allow him a second chance at correcting some of his immature behaviors without stripping him of his opportunity at making a life for himself.
Melvin is a good kid, he goes to work, hangs out with his friends, and stays out of trouble. Although his behaviors could use adjustments (as most of ours can), he is not a threat to society and should not be treated as such.
If you sign this this petition, you are supporting the movement to reduce his charge and return him home to his family in peace.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
December 18, 2015
December 17, 2015
The momentum behind Melvin's case is growing fast and shows that our community refuses to let his future be discarded. Email your local representatives today to demand that they review these excessive charges. Send this link to three friends who need to know the reality of this situation.
December 17, 2015
I have been in contact with legal advocates this week to discuss how we move forward with Melvin's case. Send an email to the County State's Attorney office today to demand a review of the charges for a first time offender. Keep texting this link to your contacts so we can keep the pressure on.
Reached 100 supporters
December 17, 2015
62 Comments
If there is any justice at all he should be let out on a signature bond if the facts of the case is true as descibed!! Once the court case is heard he should be charged as misdemeanor first offense and put on probation with the stipulation that he must go to aa meetings!!! God mustve been with him because a lot of people shoot first and ask questions later!!!
I work with PJ , he is the sweetest kid you will ever meet, any one who know's PJ knows he made a terrible mistake and should be giving a second chance. If you knew him the way we all do, you would with no regret's.
He did nothing unworthy of a second chance. Young lives matter. Black lives matter. Let my young brother go free.
How is it that a young white male, driving drunk, killed four people and he received probation. This young man made a mistake, with not intent or actual harm to anyone and he is charged so harshly!
I feel that the charge is excessive. Yes he deserves a fine and community service. A chance to make it right. If failure to complete.l then take stronger actions. Its his first offense.But no one was harmed nor injured. It was an honest mistake. Give him a chance.
Give him a chance
This is one of my child hood friend he would never hurt anybody not ewben a fly . He hatd s violence and he deserves to have a chance at life just because he was under the influence do sent mean take the rest of his life away I agree consequences is what you guys do but not to him he's a good kid and big brother and my good friend at that free mel
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On Saturday December 12, 2015, a 19 year old Rockford native Melvin "PJ" Gay made a terrible mistake. Drunk and disorderly, he walked into a woman's home thinking it was his own. When the woman tried to inform him that he was in the wrong place, he responded telling her that he lived there. There was an altercation when Melvin grabbed the woman out of reaction to her coming towards him. The woman continued to try to get through to Melvin that he was in the wrong house, but when he failed to understand, the woman called her daughter, who called her boyfriend, who called the police. The police arrived at the scene and detained him and charged him with Home Invasion, a felony charge punishable by 6-24 years in a federal state prison and set his bond at $300,000. The bond was reduced to $100,000 due to this being Melvin's first offense.
Keep in mind that Melvin did not enter the house with any weapons, or any intent to harm anyone. The boy was simply confused as a result of intoxication.
This is Melvin's first time ever being involved with the criminal justice system. He has never been in trouble with the law before.
At this time Melvin is sitting in a jail cell, fighting for his life. Realize that Melvin is not innocent, and he has well realized the severity of his actions. But also realize, he has never hurt anyone nor is he a criminal. This is how criminals are made. By taking kids and stripping them of their futures, adapting them to the living conditions of Jail and prison, and then sending them back into society to fail at adjustment, and end up right back in. Melvin is young and made a terrible mistake but he does not deserve the be made an example of by becoming a victim to the criminal justice system.
This petition is not to excuse his actions or dismiss his charges, but rather to reduce them. There lesser charges that could be implemented on his case that would allow him a second chance at correcting some of his immature behaviors without stripping him of his opportunity at making a life for himself.
Melvin is a good kid, he goes to work, hangs out with his friends, and stays out of trouble. Although his behaviors could use adjustments (as most of ours can), he is not a threat to society and should not be treated as such.
If you sign this this petition, you are supporting the movement to reduce his charge and return him home to his family in peace.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
December 18, 2015
December 17, 2015
The momentum behind Melvin's case is growing fast and shows that our community refuses to let his future be discarded. Email your local representatives today to demand that they review these excessive charges. Send this link to three friends who need to know the reality of this situation.
December 17, 2015
I have been in contact with legal advocates this week to discuss how we move forward with Melvin's case. Send an email to the County State's Attorney office today to demand a review of the charges for a first time offender. Keep texting this link to your contacts so we can keep the pressure on.
Reached 100 supporters
December 17, 2015
62 Comments
Pj was in my daycare for many years I have watched him grown into a very nice young man . pj definitely deserves a second chance everybody makes mistakes.
If there is any justice at all he should be let out on a signature bond if the facts of the case is true as descibed!! Once the court case is heard he should be charged as misdemeanor first offense and put on probation with the stipulation that he must go to aa meetings!!! God mustve been with him because a lot of people shoot first and ask questions later!!!
I work with PJ , he is the sweetest kid you will ever meet, any one who know's PJ knows he made a terrible mistake and should be giving a second chance. If you knew him the way we all do, you would with no regret's.
He did nothing unworthy of a second chance. Young lives matter. Black lives matter. Let my young brother go free.
How is it that a young white male, driving drunk, killed four people and he received probation. This young man made a mistake, with not intent or actual harm to anyone and he is charged so harshly!
I feel that the charge is excessive. Yes he deserves a fine and community service. A chance to make it right. If failure to complete.l then take stronger actions. Its his first offense.But no one was harmed nor injured. It was an honest mistake. Give him a chance.
Give him a chance
This is one of my child hood friend he would never hurt anybody not ewben a fly . He hatd s violence and he deserves to have a chance at life just because he was under the influence do sent mean take the rest of his life away I agree consequences is what you guys do but not to him he's a good kid and big brother and my good friend at that free mel
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Pj was in my daycare for many years I have watched him grown into a very nice young man . pj definitely deserves a second chance everybody makes mistakes.