Join the Fight

Right the Wrong – Free Rob Becker

On August 23, the judge postponed sentencing in order to provide the parties time to research whether, in the face of conflicting evidence, the court could have ordered additional expert testimony. There is reason to be hopeful but we need your help. Since the erroneous jury verdict in May, thousands of dollars have been spent obtaining the transcript, researching, drafting and arguing the post-trial motions, and researching and outlining the appellate briefs. The costs are mounting but we must continue the fight, now more than ever.

There is still time to help – please join the Freedom Five-Hundred.

Your gift of $500 will build Rob’s defense, help Right the Wrong and will provide an innocent man with comfort and support that is not defined by dollars. An outright gift of $500 may be a lot to ask, which is why multiple smaller gifts are encouraged over the next few months. If you send a note to let us know that $500 is your goal we can plan our efforts to provide for Rob’s defense. You will be pleased to know that, as of today, 48 gifts have been made worth more than $27,000. Thank you! If you have already given, we greatly appreciate it. Hopefully everyone will commit to the Freedom Five-Hundred.

Help Free Rob Becker. Please send your check, payable to the Rob Becker Defense Fund Trust, or your Freedom Five-Hundred Pledge to Rob’s Aunt:

Rob Becker Defense Fund Trust
Barbara Ward, Trustee
4364 West Arm Road
Spring Park, MN 55384

Rob and Susan thank you!

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
-All important notices will appear on this blog.
-We may list contributors on the blog or other letters, so let us know if you would not want to be listed.
-Share the love, please send this to anyone you think may want to Right the Wrong. Thank you.

Sentencing Postponed

As you know Rob’s sentencing was set for yesterday in Peoria. Friends, family and supporters showed up en masse from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida to support Rob in person. The hearing began at 10 am and the Court first considered the Motion for a New Trial. The arguments took nearly 2 hours and in the end the court denied the motion - but granted additional time to consider the issue of whether the Court could have called an expert on its own. This issue could lead to a reconsideration of the motion for new trial. Rob and the state have been provided time to brief the issue and sentencing has been rescheduled for September 14th at 10:30am. We hope that many of you will be at the new sentencing hearing.

Keep the prayers and positive thoughts coming!

Interestingly, we have learned that the state and the judge are aware of this blog and we believe that it proudly conveys the positive feelings from all the people that know and support Rob. Your continued positive encouragement is always welcome.

Alert - Send Books!!!!!

The Peoria County Jail will not accept any books after 28 August 2007. As you may realize this has been Rob's lifeline.

EVERYONE, if you can, please send PAPERBACK books to Rob as soon as possible to arrive no later than August 28th. After that date books will be returned to the sender (i.e. Amazon, etc.).
If you live in or near Peoria and can buy and have the bookstore send locally the books may arrive faster! It is critical that Rob have reading material for the next 21 days. Thank you in advance. Do what you can ... send your favorite from this year or ten years ago - or that book you wish you had time to read.

Positive thoughts and prayers are welcome!

Send books ASAP to:

Rob Becker
Peoria County Jail
301 N. Maxwell Road
Peoria, IL 61604

Love to all.

Free Rob Update - day 91

Greetings,

Rob is doing well under the circumstances. He sends his appreciation to everyone who has written and hopes that you understand he is not able to write back as frequently as he would like. He also assumes that everyone knows that "not much has changed between his four walls." He appreciates every letter and package.

Please keep the letters coming - they lift his spirits.

Due to the sentencing on Thursday, 23 August 2007 at 10:00 am, he will likely be moved to a new facility before 1 September. We will post the new address and rules for packages and visitation as soon as we have them. As such, if you want to send a letter to Rob please do it soon but hold off on non-essential packages. We are not sure what he can take with him.

Everyone is encouraged to attend the sentencing in Peoria. We will try and have some unifying item to hand out at the courtroom like a ribbon or tag, but bring your Free Rob bracelet just in case.

Please keep your thoughts and prayers on the positive. The next few weeks offer some opportunity for relief, so your prayers, good thoughts, positive energy, and kind acts are all appreciated.

From a friend of Susan's

The following is a portion of an email that Susan recived from a friend of hers and I cut and pasted it with her permission:

I went to a conference on prayer at Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville last weekend. The focus was how we usually don't cry out to God until we are in dire straits. While many of us are praying for Rob, maybe there are others who would, if asked. Many voices crying out to God are incredibly powerful.

Lets do this for Rob!

Visit With Rob

Hi All,

This morning I was able to visit with Rob. He continues to be strong.

Rob, as all of us, is hoping for the best in the upcoming weeks.

Terri