Even with the trial over, Sean is not safe; his sister's account

This is what Sean Butler-Smith's sister told me. Sean testified to the first assault during the Tree trial and the risk he would take by testifying against Tree.


"He was assaulted by some inmates in dorm 219. He was tied down to his bed and beaten with a bar of soap in a sock.  He was moved back to PC, but he should have never been move to any general population dorm in the first place. I don't know what the DA's office is doing about it. Sean won't give up the names of the inmates that assaulted him. It's probably better that way, so there is no more retaliation against him for being a "rat".

The morning after I found out it happened I contacted the district attorney's investigator, Seans public defender and my old probation officer who was able to advocate for him in a way that I can not as I take meetings into the jail or contact him, other than through phone."

My opinion:

This is why it is hard to change your life in Humboldt. This is the risk Jason Losey, Tyrel Brannon and all who testified took. These are the people Tree's public defenders character assasinated to defend an unremorseful man who continues to wreaks havoc. While ther is no proof that the assault is connected to Tree, where are the inmates who assaulted him?

This is why extra jail space is neccessary so certain criminals do not let go repeatedly. But the blood of Sean is on the hand of those with money and power that have left Sean, you and me vulnerable. Those that oppose growth here and those that do not create jobs so that young men and women cannot escape poverty and crime.

Those in power who are Decline to State, Democrats and Republicans that rather fund media that ignores the human condition than have the truth exposed about people's struggle.

There are those that are trying who have money and power but we are too divided and polarized to support them.