From: rjp1@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (be here now)
Subject: Legal assistance required
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 16:10:53 GMT
Keywords: Tony Rios, appeal, April 20th

Your help is needed.
 
Perhaps you've read in the Lakota Times, the story on Tony Rios out of Rapid    
City, SD.  Tony is a minor who was convicted of 1st degree manslaughter on
Feb 3rd, 1992.  He pleaded innocent by reason of self-defence.  Later he was
convicted of a felony for pulling a knife on a male teenager in April 1990.
He was sentenced to 8 years at the Springfield State Prison on March 20th.

Thelma Rios, Tony's mother and national co-chairwoman of the Alliance of
Native Americans, said her son never should have been convicted in the first
place.  Ms. Rios is extremely upset about the performance of her son's court
appointed attorney.  She wanted to replace him before the case was moved to
adult court, but a lack of funds made that impossible.
 
A defense fund has been set up.  It is called the Anthony D. Rios Defense 
Fund, and it is about $300 short of bringing a Chicago law firm in to  
begin the appeals process.  The law firm is requesting paid plane tickets 
and a small fee payment to take the case.  The deadline for Tony's appeal 
is April 20th, 1992.
 
If you would like to make a donation to this defense fund, please send it  
to: 
    Anthony D. Rios Defense Fund 
    Norwest Bank
    202 Disk Dr.
    Rapid City, SD 57701
    
I spoke with Thelma Rios last night on the telephone.  Money is not only
needed for legal assistance, it is also needed to help keep communication
channels open.  Other costs have incurred as a result of this legal battle
for which there is no more money.  The telephone bill needs paying in order
to keep it from being disconnected.  The cost of copying documents and 
mailing them out to people also needs funding.  This is an important issue
which should not be allowed to die because of a lack of funds.  You may
also write (or call) Thelma if you would like to do so.  Her address and
phone are:

    Thelma Rios
    2429 Gnugnuska
    Rapid City, SD 57701
    (605) 341-5468


Another issue which needs much more attention focused upon it is the issue
of the high Indian prison population in general, in Rapid City.  Since they
are not on the Reservation, there is no real funding for these people to
retain legal assistance, lawyers, and/or civil rights attorneys.  The Tribal
Govts are restricted in what they can provide, and their funds are very
limited to begin with.  One particular inmate, Chris Bald Eagle, is seeking
to bring a class action case, but the lack of funds prevent him from doing so.
Constitutional issues are in dire need to be addressed here.  The Indians
feel that they have to live under a dual standard.  They feel that the 1868
and 1871 Treaties have and continue to be violated to this day, and that
because the Court does not address Treaty issues, they do not get fair
representation on what they perceive to be the problem, violations of said
Treaties.  So if you can or would like to be of any assistance in these
matters, please contact the Rapid City courthouse and/or penal system.  To
obtain more information about this matter write to:

   Bernard Peoples
   Box 5686
   Rapid City, SD 57709


--
rj pietkivitch       |  "Moon, my long lost friend, is smiling from above."
rjp1@ihburn.att.com  |   -- Genesis, Stagnation