Tipsheet: Prison letters reveal Lawrence Phillips' struggle - STLtoday.com
USA Today published excerpts of letters former Rams running back Lawrence Phillips wrote to his former coaches at Baldwin Park High School in the Los Angeles area. Phillips is serving 31 years for multiple offenses, including driving his car into three teenagers after a pick-up football game and assaulting an ex-girlfriend. Worse, he is also under investigation for the death of a cellmate at the maximum-security prison. The victim, Damien Soward , was a former gang member serving an 82-year term for first-degree murder. These letters suggest Phillips was trying to stay out of further trouble -- which is no small task at an overcrowded maximum security prison. As you might have noticed on the envelope, I have been moved from the cell I was in. I spent some days in the hole for refusing to room with a gang member. They have now took my privileges, which include yard (exercise), canteen, vendor packages, and all personal property for 180 days. I will of course appeal this decision as I was refusing to room with gang members after already having had incidents with gang members. I do not have a cell mate. All of these dudes want to use drugs and (illegible) weapons in the cell. I’m in the process of applying for single-cell status. That is why I do not want any of these idiots in the cell with me. All they they want to do is the drugs, make knives and make alcohol. Source: www.stltoday.com
