Tag Archives: The Monfils Conspiracy

Tragedy in the Face of Innocence…

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Part of my advocacy on behalf of five innocent Wisconsin men happened through letter writing. In 2010, roughly a year after committing to helping these men, I was compelled to write to all of them to introduce myself and my partner, Johnny. Not knowing much at all about them made this a difficult but essential task. These men had most likely heard about us by now from their loved ones and we felt it was time for them to hear from us directly. It was important to let them know of our intentions.

In the weeks following, reply letters started arriving from each of them. My heart raced. “Wow, they’ve written back!” We wondered what messages were inside envelopes marked with this prison stamp:

THIS LETTER HAS BEEN MAILED FROM THE WISCONSIN PRISON SYSTEM

The first letter to arrive had come from the oldest of the men, Dale Basten. Dale had written a brief note and included a photo of himself, taken around 1961, as he stated, “…at the mill when I started there”. It was his way of introducing his younger self; someone from long ago that was no more. It was the face of a handsome young man with integrity and, dare I say, innocence that over time learned tough lessons due to being falsely accused of a heinous crime. I remember also thinking of this remarkable image as a dreadful reminder of a valuable life that had wasted away behind bars for too long. This was a family man who had once been an involved husband and wonderful Dad to two young girls in a setting familiar to most families. The only difference is that their legacy now holds only memories and remnants of a content life because of a horrible injustice that had gotten in the way and destroyed their world.

Photo of Dale Basten circa 1961

Photo courtesy of Dale Basten (circa 1961) 

The note accompanying the photo was brief but kind. It contained gratitude for my thoughtfulness and an appreciation of receiving it during an especially trying time of year; the holiday season. Additional letters from Dale ended with well wishes for my longevity and his reassurance that there is definitely a place for me in Heaven.

Three excerpts from the book, The Monfils Conspiracy describe Dale:

For those who knew him, Dale was, “…a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. He had a real good head on his shoulders. He caught onto things real fast and always had a good job. He was pretty much of a loner and a quiet person who kept to himself”.

His wife described him as, “… a devoted husband and Father.”

One of his neighbors said,  “If you needed a favor, he would be willing to help.”

Sometime ago, Dale experienced serious medical issues and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Initially his family was given no information about his well being or whereabouts. They later learned he had suffered a heart attack. This experience, typical of those forced onto families of the incarcerated, caused extreme trauma. It makes little sense especially for those with loved ones serving time for something they didn’t do. I see this as a crime in itself that must be remedied.

Dale, aged 73, does not write long letters but what he does say is direct and thoughtful. I looked forward to the day when we’d encounter a face with eyes I imagined were now full of wisdom.

Update: In 2015, we met Dale for the first and last time at Stanley Correctional Institution in Stanley, Wisconsin. Then, in a sudden move in 2017, at age 76, Dale was given “compassionate release” due to his failing health. The Parole Commission cited his “advancing, maturing age” and “apparent cognitive decline” for the move. “It is clear from this encounter that you have little or no orientation as to your surroundings,” the Commission’s written decision stated of Dale Basten. (From an article in the Green Bay Press-Gazette)

Dale passed away nine months after he was released. RIP Dale.

 

The Relevance of Making Each Day Count…

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Being involved in my current mission constantly reminds me of the need to make each day count. Time is precious and lives can be altered in an instant, making every good day a gift. In my life’s mission, I think of this as respecting those who’ve lost years/decades behind bars for crimes they didn’t commit. In our society the lives of these people hold no more value than those who are guilty. It’s shameful and inexcusable that innocents in prison have little hope for vindication.

With this said, I think of how meaningful it was for our five incarcerated guys in Wisconsin to learn that another fundraiser was being planned in their honor. Our second annual Hotrod and Motorcycle Breakout benefit for the Innocence Project of Minnesota (IPMN) was held on Saturday, August 2, 2014. These men look forward to it even though they cannot be there. They are touched just knowing that others support them.

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Logan directing the classic cars into the parking lot 

This year, the number of classic cars tripled from thirty-four last year to approximately one hundred this year. We estimated about five hundred people came; more than double last year’s total. We raised $2000.00 despite reducing the entry fee for classic vehicle owners in half, from $10 to $5. It was exciting to see the colorful parade lining up almost immediately after we showed up which was an hour before we officially opened. We had again succeeded in creating a unique experience full of laughter, tears, and important awareness.

We didn’t know how much interest would be generated this year because we know the topic of wrongful convictions is a sensitive one that gets little attention in today’s hectic world. But at these events I often come across people who’ve experienced an incident similar to a wrongful conviction. I’m always amazed at how many people are willing to share their personal stories. They offer touching sentiments about what we are trying to accomplish. We see many of them putting money into our donation barrels.

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Kathy Sauvageau working diligently to set up the refreshments booth 

I’m highlighting the sponsors who helped to make this event possible. Gene Kohler, owner of Route 65 Classics in Ham Lake, Minnesota and General Manager, Sue Stang, who has enthusiastically hosted this event both years. Their support afforded us access to a great venue. We also gained a new food vendor this year. Brad Slawson Sr. and Jr., owners of Route 65 Pub and Grub in East Bethel, MN supplied delicious food and refreshing spirits. They also initiated sponsorship from Budweiser who supplied us with two 4’ x 8’ banners for advertising purposes.Thanks also to Kathy Sauvageau who manages things at the bar/restaurant for her assistance in organizing their participation and helping to serve food that day.

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Chuck Brost, owner of Tunes to Go in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota was his energetic witty self while providing musical entertainment and trivia throughout the day. Christi Williams, owner of Grinkie Photography in Minneapolis, MN documented the day by taking wonderful photos and promoting them on social media. She added a splash of the “Grinkie” style by inviting men and women dressed in apparel from a bygone era well suited to the sea of amazing classic vehicles. The fine folks at Dahlke Trailer Sales in Fridley, MN donated and set up a large platform for the second year in a row for our use as a stage.

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Steve Kaplan with Amy Tomczyk 

Speakers for the day included: Amy Tomczyk, interim Executive Director for the IPMN. She shared statistics regarding wrongful convictions and the important work being done by the organization. Steve Kaplan, lead Attorney on our Wisconsin Monfils case shared aspects about this arduous case and his gratitude for the day’s event. Trudy Baltazar who advocated on behalf of Koua Fong Lee in his exoneration case from Minnesota gave a speech that left the crowd stunned as she covered aspects of that case. Our Wisconsin exoneree Michael ‘Pie’ Piaskowski again traveled over from Green Bay, and brought both Denis Gullickson and John Gaie; co-authors of the book, The Monfils Conspiracy. Both Mike Pie and Denis shared their unique perspectives on this case.

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Trudy Baltazar addressing the crowd 

Also from the Green Bay area: A heartfelt thanks and tribute goes to Clayton and Brenda Kutska, their son Mathew and Brenda’s Mom Claire; esteemed guests and family members of one of our five innocent men. They had come to help us with last minute details and to witness the support. A dear lady and friend, Shirley DeLorme, who hosts the monthly FAF (Friends and Family) meetings in Green Bay, was a wonderfully cheerful addition to our event.

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Our DJ Chuck Brost, Rosemary Bonnett and Logan handing out prizes 

Lastly, I’d like to also acknowledge appreciation of these extraordinary people; Rosemary and Pat Bonnett and Eric Von Son, who supplied trophies, flyers, programs, and prizes.

Final thoughts about those who spend time complaining about what is wrong with the world rather than taking action and doing something about it:

Take a day, look around, and focus energy on remedying the plight of others less fortunate. Don’t wait until you are faced with a personal crisis of your own. See how lucky you are. Then realize how your words and actions can effect those around you. Use this understanding to decide whether or not you can make your life better and maybe make a difference in someone else’s. This will certainly open your eyes to the importance of making each day count.

Conceptual Simplicity of Berry Picking…

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As I picked raspberries in my backyard patch one day, it occurred to me how easy it is to overlook the ripe ones no matter how thorough you think you’ve been. As you eye the bush you’ve just emptied from another angle, you clearly see there are ones you’ve missed. A simple enough concept that clarifies the importance of getting multiple perspectives on all things, right?

Take as an example, for instance, when people ask me, “How can you be so sure those five Wisconsin men are innocent?” I was challenged on Amazon by a resident of Green Bay, Wisconsin who ranted about how he knows these “union thugs” murdered Tom Monfils. In his mind I was totally ignorant of the facts and my opinion appeared slanted. In another instance, much of what was written about me in a Green Bay news story was ignored by the reader which prompted a comment from them saying my advocacy is based solely on reading a book. Really?

When people fail to understand the whole picture and refuse to either look further into the truth or accept the obvious, there’s bound to be adversarial discussion and obstruction. That’s why it’s vital to do your homework, especially on a topic as provocative as wrongful convictions. I admit I experienced my own suspicions about the case in question, early on. I wondered how six men could have been convicted on such flimsy evidence. So I sought out answers and I kept an open mind.

Now, because of my absolute certainty about the true merits of this case, I welcome all inquiries. I’d love to get more because it would mean that people are engaging in the conversation even though they may not be interested in learning the truth. There will always be those in opposition. But as I hold little regard for those who refuse to increase their knowledge, it still means that I’m getting through to people on both sides of the argument because at the very least they are paying attention. I’m determined to continue on with this important debate because it’s about a topic that gets little consideration despite the many lives it destroys.

I believe it’s typical to get involved in something that directly affects us which in itself is a noble thing. But I’m ecstatic when I hear from those who have no direct ties and are passionate nevertheless. This was true in my case which is why I am determined to be an example of what it means to enter into something absent the personal emotions. I believe this allows a clear vision toward solutions. And with both sides working together to form different perspectives, therein lays the progress.

There’s nothing like having the emotional ties to fuel action but also having an unbiased viewpoint, which can carry a lot of weight. In some of the news reports surrounding this Wisconsin Monfils case, the authorities stipulated that of course the friends and families of these men will support their innocence. But they had no opinions regarding my involvement. In fact, I was not acknowledged by the media for a long time until I brought with me the really big guns in the form of legal assistance by a sizable law firm from out of state! There were those who argued the guilt of these men simply because of repeatedly being denied parole. But they too, were ominously quiet about the new developments about legal help.

In response to my knowledge of the innocence of these men due to my willingness to look through a wider lens, the search for the absolute truth was not hard. And in a very short while the factual details of what really happened at the former James River Paper Mill will be revealed in time. As I’ve done in the past and as the next challenges surface, I’ll continue to keep an eye out for those elusive berries… because really, it’s that simple.