E62 - Breaking Barriers: Reentry Challenges for Sex Offenders - Mitch Stupica
In this episode of Prisoner's Pardon Podcast, host Michi J discusses the sensitive topic of reentry for sex offenders with special guest Mitch Stupica. Mitch shares his life story, including his struggles with mental health, drug addiction, and his legal troubles stemming from a sexual relationship with a minor and other crimes. As Mitch reflects on his past, he provides insights into the impacts of his upbringing, the consequences of deceptive behavior, and the complexities of reentry into society. The episode emphasizes the importance of community support, understanding, and accountability. Mitch also highlights his journey towards recovery, forgiveness, and his efforts to inform and guide others to avoid similar pitfalls.
00:00 Introduction and Personal Background
00:51 Welcome to Prisoner's Pardon Podcast
01:07 Discussing Reentry for Sex Offenders
03:02 Introducing Mitch Stupica
03:46 Mitch's Early Life and Struggles
05:58 Mitch's Teenage Years and Legal Issues
10:04 The Impact of Family Dynamics
19:19 Mitch's Conviction and Legal Consequences
28:04 Understanding the Legal Consequences
28:34 The Romeo and Juliet Law Explained
30:09 The Importance of Awareness and Prevention
34:58 Personal Reflections and Regrets
36:19 Living with the Consequences
39:09 Navigating Legal and Social Challenges
43:42 The Role of Accountability and Mentorship
49:52 Recovery and Moving Forward
52:16 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
Mitch Stupica Music Video & News Clip from Fox News 6
https://youtu.be/qJmTtXg-pPc?si=AEHw6H5iKv7URbPS
https://www.fox6now.com/news/milwaukee-unrest-destruction-totals-more-than-3m-in-sherman-park-neighborhood
Transcript
I thought that it was
okay to be deceptive.
2
:That if I told the truth, it
would come with punishment.
3
:Oh, just tell me the truth
and , everything will be okay.
4
:You're not going to get in trouble.
5
:And then when I would be honest, it would
come and be reinforced with punishment.
6
:So I started living a double life with
selling drugs and gang activity and,
7
:and trying to be surface compliant,
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:I thought that it was
okay to be deceptive.
9
:Welcome everybody to
Prisoner's Pardon Podcast.
10
:I'm Mic J, your host, and today, again,
you always know, I always say I have
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:a special guest because I always do.
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:You know why?
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:Because everybody is special.
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:Today we're going to be talking
about a really touchy subject.
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:Many people get triggered
by this, and you know what?
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:It's prevalent, and I do understand
why we're gonna be talking about
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:reentry for sex offenders and.
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:Just so that you know, when you hear
that term, it, categorizes a big
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:group of people and it's different
categories, it's different circumstances.
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:And I just want you all to be aware of
that and your heart softened to listen,
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:but also using your mind at the same time.
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:So again, we're going to be
talking about a touchy subject.
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:We won't have any kind of foul
language or anything like that.
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:It will be a good listen for, young
ones, but not too young because a
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:lot of people, I would say a lot of,
not just people, but young people
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:are involved with sex and it is.
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:In my opinion, something like only should
be done by adults because of some of the
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:consequences that can come out of that.
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:So I'm glad that you're here.
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:I'm glad that you're
taking the time to listen.
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:And I really appreciate all that you do.
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:Please, once you hear this
video, Please send us feedback.
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:I really appreciate it so that we can
make this show better So people can
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:get the value that they need because
this is things that we really should be
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:talking about Again, this is like a taboo
subject but here on prisoners pardon.
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:We don't back away from that so we
approach things and because we do want
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:to add value in this area too because
there is not a lot of things For
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:people that have a sex offender case.
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:So again, that was just to let you
know what we're about to talk about.
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:And my guest here today is Mitch Stupica.
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:He is Yugoslavian and haven't talked
to him as much as I would like
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:to, but I wanted to talk to him
today because he has a great story.
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:He does have a case like this and this
is going to be interesting because he's
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:going to come from the, Emphasis of
being the male , in this particular case.
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:And I want you to listen
to what he has to say.
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:Welcome Mitch.
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:Hey, now, for coming on the show.
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:And I really appreciate it.
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:Coming here and talking about
such a sensitive subject.
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:So Mitch, tell us a little bit
about yourself so people can
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:understand who you are at first.
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:Well, I've been through a lot of
trauma in my life from my father
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:having mental health issues.
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:Uh, a lot of mental health issues
in my family from my grandma having
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:schizophrenia, there's been Alzheimer's
going on in my family, a lot of
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:addiction from my uncle charlie.
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:Um, and you know, I was born
in:
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:drugs were quite prevalent.
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:And my family and just genetically
speaking, I've was diagnosed with
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:attention deficit in 1993 with
an oppositional defiant disorder.
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:Um, and in 96 I was diagnosed
with bipolar disorder.
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:So I was been on medication
majority of my life from 93.
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:I remember when my, when they found
out and I was diagnosed, I went from
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:getting, um, disciplined physically
to He's sick, Mitchell's sick, and um,
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:I really didn't understand what I was
going through, you know, um, but I was
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:on anywhere from Ritalin to Adderall to
Wobutrin, Devacol, Clonidine, Risperdal,
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:Prozac, it was always a cocktail.
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:And growing up in my family,
we, it was me and my sister.
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:My dad was emotionally unavailable.
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:My mom was the alpha female.
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:She's Irish from Chicago.
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:My dad sides from Cleveland.
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:And so it was just the
four of us in a avoidant.
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:Type of family that was very passive
aggressive, didn't want to talk
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:about the elephant in the room.
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:And majority of the time was
spent catering to me with the
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:school system with an IEP.
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:I had a learning disability,
emotionally disturbed.
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:And so, I got into drugs quite early
on to cope with a lot of the emotional
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:instability that I had growing up
at by the age of 12 I was using
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:marijuana, cocaine, psychedelics, you
know, just experimenting with alcohol.
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:And, um, I was convicted early on.
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:I had a juvenile case of breaking
and entering and stuff like that.
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:Um, just, you know, mischievous things.
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:Um, And when I went into high
school, uh, it was, this was:
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:So I'm sorry to interrupt you, but
yeah, you just gave us a long little
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:bio about the, , mental conditions
and some of the medications
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:you've taken and stuff like that.
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:And , what about,, did you work how
were you in the community , did you
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:have any kind of skill sets that
you did to was all of your time?
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:Um, just being what we call a
bad boy or something like that.
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:I worked, I had a job early on at 14.
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:Team at McDonald's got fired for
smoking weed in the bathroom.
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:Okay.
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:And then I got my first, you
know, pretty good job at 15.
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:I was working at a, uh, river Hills
West Healthcare Center in p Walke
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:and I was in dietary, so, and then I
started working at Cold's Furniture.
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:So I've always.
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:kept the job because my, my parents
were, um, they weren't well off, but
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:they were real adamant on work, work.
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:But I never was able
to usually keep a job.
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:Okay.
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:And that was due to my mental health
issues, like bipolar, you know, I
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:wouldn't show up on time and it would
really affect my emotional state.
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:So were you doing, , When you
wasn't showing up on time and
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:stuff, when you lost your job,
was it because of just that?
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:Or were you also doing drugs?
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:Well, yeah, you said
you were doing the week.
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:I was, I was heavy.
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:Yeah.
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:And I was, you know, prior to me getting
heavy in my addiction and self medicating,
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:I was, there was already a plan.
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:Uh, obsession and character defects.
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:Um, where I thought that it
was okay to be deceptive.
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:That if I told the truth, it
would come with punishment.
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:Oh, you know, just tell me the truth
and you know, everything will be okay.
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:You're not going to get in trouble.
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:And then when I would be honest, it would
come and be reinforced with punishment.
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:So I started living a double life with
selling drugs and gang activity and, and
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:trying to be surface compliant, you know,
be perceived in this one way Work and
121
:uh, yeah, you know, I got the greatest
potential, but on the other side, I
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:was deceptive, manipulative and very
disassociated with life, very antisocial
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:behaviors and more of an extrovert.
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:I always felt ostracized from people.
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:I never really felt like I fit in.
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:I never really felt like I had
any type of place in this life.
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:And so part of it had to do with the
mental health issue, but also just with.
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:All the psychiatry that I was
put under with everything was
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:just made to make it seem like I,
it was something wrong with me.
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:I was sick and nobody could relate.
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:Okay.
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:So thank you for bringing that up.
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:I think you said a point about being
deceptive and you got, the punishment
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:when you were true faith, And that's
why you didn't tell the truth because
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:you didn't want that punishment.
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:You didn't.
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:What kind of punishment was that Larry?
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:And I would get the silent
treatment, which I would start
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:feeling like I was rejected.
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:Like when my parents wouldn't talk to me.
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:I think that that just the emotional
abandonment, uh, I would get.
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:Uh, hit with whatever my dad at the time
before that from extension cores to belts.
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:My dad was before these diagnosis
were even in, uh, on the table.
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:Uh, I was just this problem.
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:Child that needed to be whooped, you
know, come from the old school spirit
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:of spirit of riots for the child and
Just the verbal abuse the emotional
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:abuse that you know I remember my mom
used to say you're just like my brother.
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:You're just like my mom.
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:Well, I never met my grandma I never
really had a relationship with my brother.
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:And so I Internalized that and say well
if I'm just like them you're gonna abandon
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:me and leave me anyways You're going
to reject me anyways, just like them.
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:So I never really got close
with, you know, my mom.
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:I never really got close with
people, even those in authority
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:because I didn't really trust them.
155
:I used to see a lot of things in the
public school system when it came to kids
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:with autism and kids with other learning
disabilities and they would be abused
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:and you know it was hard for me to trust
those in authority because the people
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:in authority abused their authority.
159
:I'm not saying all of them but I
saw a lot of things that would give
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:me selective memory to where it
would reinforce a lot of the trauma
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:that I went through as a child.
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:So in your estimation like you said
they punished you with the silent
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:treatment , excessive punishments
with, , cords, verbal abuse, that
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:quite naturally took your trust away.
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:You know, I think anybody would have that.
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:So what do you think should have been the
outcome with you being honest with them?
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:If you were the parent,
what would you have done?
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:I think with the, uh, you know, looking
back, I think having a safe environment.
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:place to where you could come a judgment
free zone where you could be encouraged
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:and be supportive to the child.
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:I know that, you know, there has
to be some form of discipline,
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:especially, you know, to correct
problematic and antisocial behavior.
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:Um, I think that with my, my
parents, they did the best that they
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:could, but I feel like, I was just
talking with my sister recently.
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:She was the obedient child and I was
the one that always would act out.
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:And this was my way of avoiding
a lot of the things that was
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:going on where my parents would
fight all the time and argue.
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:And I would think that it
was something wrong with me.
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:Well, maybe if you get rid of me because
there was always money problems, there
180
:was always something that was going on.
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:I'm the one to blame.
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:Maybe if I just commit suicide that I
would be able to, you guys would be happy.
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:And I used to take on a lot of that
guilt and shame and rejection because
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:my parents never had a good marriage.
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:And so that communication style, I think
I just wanted to be heard and understood.
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:And I never felt that way.
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:You never felt you got that one.
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:Okay.
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:Which is understandable because
we all need to be, , heard,
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:you know, in children.
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:Now understand and we do
take on guilt They've really
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:affected with broken marriages.
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:We see this all everywhere.
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:I believe everybody can agree with
that that broken marriages and
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:broken homes make broken children, so
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:I was glad to hear that That you said
they did the best that they could, and
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:I'm willing to bet something happened
in their past where they weren't
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:able to parent as they, should have.
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:So I'm glad to hear that.
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:You have some forgiveness there.
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:Yeah, okay And because that's really
necessary But you said the word judgment
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:no judgment zone and I must admit My
antennas go up when I hear that word
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:judgment because it's so many times people
use it incorrectly um, it depends on the
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:content because god said judge yourself
and then it's another part in the bible
205
:that says Don't judge so It's definitely
two different things meanings there.
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:So it's really said in the New Testament.
207
:So it's in Greek.
208
:So in Greek, , as one of my Bible teachers
at church to say, it's more colorful.
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:So it have more, , more words.
210
:But in English, it's, one word that
they would use that could mean a lot of
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:things, but it depends on the context.
212
:So, uh, to make it clear, judgment
is Um, the way you're, the way you're
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:speaking of is just being able to examine
and look at things because a lot of
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:people use that inappropriately and
it shuts down the process to actually
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:help somebody because you have to say
something to be able to do something.
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:You have to know what, what you're saying.
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:What's going on to be able to attack
it, to be able to direct what we
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:need to do to stop the problem.
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:So you have to expose it.
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:But some people, um, misconstrued
that they use it in appropriately.
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:And now they stopped that process when
they don't know that they're stopping.
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:They actually stop it.
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:So, I would like to say it's examined.
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:Judging is nobody can judge
but God because he's the only
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:good person and able to judge.
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:Everybody has done something.
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:Everybody is working on things.
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:So we can't judge.
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:So we leave that judging.
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:to him.
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:But we still must examine.
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:So that being the case, you wanted a safe
place in a non judgmental place, right?
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:I guess that's what you should.
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:But you wanted a place
where you can be examined.
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:So since they didn't know how they just
worked off of what they all they know.
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:So I'm glad again that you have
forgiveness and because if you did
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:not, it would be hard for you to
move forward because unforgiveness
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:leads to bitterness and it's get sour.
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:And then it's not what they would
say, uh, compartmentalized is going
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:to spill over into other places.
241
:So you have to deal with it.
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:that.
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:You can't just leave it there
because it's gonna actually
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:spill over to all authority.
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:So, and that's exactly
what happened with you.
246
:So, , in looking back and now that
we explain like examining them having
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:this safe place, um, what would you
think they should have done better?
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:Now that you're in a better place, we're
looking back now and we can look at this
249
:picture of you sitting there as a child
and you're having these issues that
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:they're not aware of and they have issues.
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:So what if we, if it was a perfect
world, so somewhat, what would you as a
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:parent do just to validate my feelings?
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:Because I knew that they loved me.
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:I just didn't feel that they loved me.
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:Did they say that they loved you?
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:They would, but it was, it always
felt like it was out of obligation.
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:Like we were like, I love you.
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:I love you too.
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:It was never like set me down and say,
you know, I know you got some issues.
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:Yeah.
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:And we're working on that, but I
really love you no matter what.
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:I like that.
263
:That's a good way to do it.
264
:At the point where you're examining,
validate the person, encourage the person
265
:and let them know that you love them.
266
:And that's how we should do things.
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:we should do things in love.
268
:That means if, if our motives are right,
and we're trying to actually build
269
:the person up, and not tear them down.
270
:And they unknowingly were tearing you
down and contributing to the problem.
271
:So because most of it was
like, well, why can I do that?
272
:Well, because I said so, you know, it's
just like I'm trying to understand.
273
:I'm trying to be understood and I
never felt like I was understood.
274
:It was always Put a band aid on cancer.
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:. Um, and I think that just leads up to,
um, just, you know, I look back at the,
276
:the conviction that I was, um, convicted
hird degree sexual assault in:
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:Tell us, um, sorry to interrupt,
tell us a little bit about that.
278
:Um, so, So I was, I got a
job at Radio Shack in:
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:I would just turn 18.
280
:I was in high school.
281
:It was my senior year.
282
:And so, um, I was out in Madison and
I met a girl she was 15 at the time.
283
:She was in high school with me.
284
:Well, like, you know, we didn't go
to the same high school, but you
285
:know, we were both in high school.
286
:And so I liked her.
287
:She liked me.
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:And, um, I wanted to celebrate, and
so we were smoking weed, you know,
289
:drinking, and we decided to go back
to, uh, uh, my mom's house in Wales,
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:Wisconsin, and we had sex that night.
291
:She was, uh She was 15.
292
:I was 18 at the time.
293
:How did you know her age?
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:Uh, well, she told me.
295
:She told you?
296
:Yeah.
297
:So you knew her age?
298
:Yeah, I knew her age.
299
:And at that time, you
know, I'm in high school.
300
:I didn't really think of
that was inappropriate.
301
:You know, um, I didn't like, this
is, we're in high school together.
302
:This is my friend, you know, this
is my, this is my little, this is
303
:my little girlfriend, you know?
304
:And, um, I think it was more of
like I'm getting the attention
305
:that I wasn't getting at home.
306
:Uh, somebody likes me for me
and we want to build something.
307
:I want to celebrate, you
know, I just got a job.
308
:I was in celebratory
mode and didn't realize.
309
:Uh, I didn't really look at
the red flags looking back.
310
:Um, that, why was it so easy for you
to come with me when we just met?
311
:Um, where you don't have
to go home while I'm grown.
312
:Okay, well, you've grown.
313
:So am I, you know, not really
looking at the fact that,
314
:well, where's your parents at?
315
:I look back at it now.
316
:She was, she was, um, she ran away
at the time she was on probation.
317
:I found this out later during the
conviction when we get the discovery.
318
:Um, so I was still communicating with
her for a couple, about three months.
319
:And, um, I got upset.
320
:I went out to Madison to get up with her.
321
:And my friend and her and her
friend, we were going to go
322
:on a date and she let me down.
323
:She canceled on me.
324
:Who is this?
325
:The girl.
326
:She let you down?
327
:Okay.
328
:Yeah.
329
:And so I struggle with disappointment
and being letting down and that
330
:goes back to my own trauma.
331
:And so I said a whole bunch
of, uh, horrible things to
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:her and broke up with her.
333
:Fast forward.
334
:Um, I was called in by Walker Shaw
County, uh, detectives and they asked
335
:me about the situation and saying,
well, this girl saying you sexually
336
:assaulted her at the time, I thought
that she was saying that I forced myself
337
:on her and, you know, um, was violent.
338
:And you know, raped her.
339
:So I committed, uh, I, uh, confessed to
having consensual sex with my girlfriend
340
:thinking like, no, I didn't rape her.
341
:So they let me go.
342
:And, um, about a month and a half,
two months later, this was in:
343
:was charged with second degree sexual
assault of a minor because she was 15
344
:and she legally couldn't give consent.
345
:And the discovery, she told her
psychiatrist that we broke up
346
:and then we were having sex.
347
:Yeah.
348
:And so that's when they investigated it.
349
:And because I was 18 at
the time, I was an adult.
350
:And so back then they didn't have what
they call as a Romeo and Juliet clause
351
:with the age difference, which now my
conviction, if I was 18 and she would
352
:have been 15 at the time, it would have
been a misdemeanor, but back then it
353
:was second degree sexual assault of a
minor, it got dropped down to a third
354
:degree and I was sentenced to seven
year probation to consecutive to another
355
:separate case of attempted armed robbery.
356
:Because after that, I just went downhill
once I got that charge, it just was
357
:a matter of time for me to end up
in prison for other things because
358
:I was already, um, I got, uh, right.
359
:Yeah.
360
:I'm sorry to answer it, but why did it
get dropped down to the third degree?
361
:Um, well, I wanted it when
I was getting the plea.
362
:I wanted to get dropped down
to a fourth degree misdemeanor.
363
:But but they said, because I had the
other separate case, they wouldn't drop
364
:it down to a misdemeanor because they
already kind of have this perception that
365
:I was just violent because I had other
batteries and other things going on.
366
:So that was their perception.
367
:You think that was the right
perception at the time?
368
:Yeah, I was violent.
369
:Um, I didn't see that I was
violent towards, sexually violent.
370
:So they applied the violence
from the other one to this one.
371
:Yeah.
372
:So that's why it didn't get dropped down
to the fourth, but it did come down.
373
:Yeah.
374
:Okay.
375
:All right.
376
:Um, why did it start at second degree?
377
:Cause she was 15 and my
What's the first degree?
378
:First degree is like Pedophile.
379
:Okay.
380
:Rape, first degree,
intentional like force.
381
:Okay.
382
:Uh, pedophile.
383
:Like if you were with a prepubescent
child and she was 15 at the time,
384
:so legally she couldn't give
consent and it was already a felony.
385
:Right.
386
:Since I was 18.
387
:Okay.
388
:So again, you had that case going on.
389
:So was uh, this.
390
:What happened before you
did the armed robbery?
391
:Okay.
392
:So after that, I was supposed
to be, come to court for that.
393
:And then like a week before, I was
supposed to appear for court for that.
394
:I committed attempted armed
robbery and a reckless.
395
:And what?
396
:A reckless, uh, a reckless
endangerment safety.
397
:Okay, reckless.
398
:Yeah.
399
:May I put, um, I pulled a knife to
somebody's throat and threatened,
400
:um, and attempted to rob them.
401
:Was that, it was a, was it that
armed robbery was the night before
402
:it was a knife as well, or was it?
403
:Yeah, that was the attempted armed
robbery because no money was taken.
404
:No money was.
405
:Okay.
406
:Um, why didn't it, why
didn't you take the money?
407
:Cause he didn't have any.
408
:I mean, what did you say?
409
:Okay.
410
:I'll just let you go.
411
:Yeah.
412
:Like let you go.
413
:But they called the police.
414
:And
415
:when we went in, They were going to try
to get dropped down to the attempted armed
416
:robbery because no money was took and
no money was demanded because, uh, due
417
:to what I was saying was pocket check.
418
:And what did you, what did you just say?
419
:I said, I said pocket check.
420
:I put somebody, put a knife to somebody's
throat and I said pocket check.
421
:I didn't demand it.
422
:So in the courtroom, we asked them
to define what pocket check means and
423
:nobody could, but since a felony was
committed, the reckless endangering
424
:safety, that's why it was pocket check.
425
:Pushed to the arraignment and
it's just, it was, you said pocket
426
:check and what does that mean?
427
:Like I'm going to go in your pockets.
428
:That's what you said.
429
:Yeah.
430
:So you, so it has to be a, you
was talking this language and
431
:that person understood that it.
432
:Okay.
433
:Yeah.
434
:You were robbing them.
435
:Yeah.
436
:Okay.
437
:And they didn't have any money.
438
:So I left it.
439
:Went on my way.
440
:Okay.
441
:All right.
442
:So now we understand why
they, they, um, yeah.
443
:And I had already had others like, uh,
batteries and others like on my record.
444
:So they kind of put everything
in a span of, uh, like six
445
:months to like nine months.
446
:I had other misdemeanor charges
with a fight with my dad.
447
:And a fight at school.
448
:And they're like, no,
you need to be locked up.
449
:And so I got five years in for
the robbery, and five years
450
:extended supervision for the
attempted armed robbery case.
451
:For the third degree sexual assault,
because I got dropped down, it was
452
:seven years probation, run consecutive
to the ten year robbery sentence.
453
:So after I would have finished the ten
year robbery sentence, then I would start
454
:the third degree sexual assault case.
455
:It was, oh, it wasn't combined.
456
:No, it was one consecutive.
457
:So, now the seven year probation case,
they had a stay and oppose sentence,
458
:uh, four years in and five years out.
459
:If I, if I completed the seven
years probation, I would just
460
:do seven years probation.
461
:Okay.
462
:If I didn't.
463
:I would go back for four years
automatically in five years,
464
:which that ended up happening.
465
:Okay.
466
:So, so, um, I'm going to
interrupt there a little bit
467
:to give the audience
some background on this.
468
:It's the Romeo and Juliet law.
469
:It's where it doesn't make.
470
:Sex with a teenager legal, but it
exists to prevent the offender from
471
:having to register as a sex offender.
472
:So what they do is they apply this when
there's a small age difference between the
473
:two parties so that everyone understand
what the Romeo and Juliet lie is.
474
:Not every state has it
to my understanding.
475
:Wisconsin does not have it.
476
:Um, what
477
:under this law too, and not having
this in place, I would say it
478
:can be a lifetime registration.
479
:So are you a lifetime registration?
480
:15 years, 15 years.
481
:Praise God for that.
482
:That's I think that's good because
in some cases they can hit people
483
:with a lifetime registration.
484
:So yeah, I think due to the, the,
the circumstances of the offense,
485
:that's why they made it for 10 years.
486
:And
487
:I think that's up to the judge, right?
488
:So that is something to be thankful for.
489
:because it could have been because
some people are hit lifetime for this.
490
:So I wanted to tell the audience
that it is very vital that young men
491
:understand this, especially if they
live in the state of Wisconsin and
492
:other states, that the girl, whether
she consents or not, is a woman.
493
:She is considered a minor, meaning
that she cannot give consent and
494
:the state would take up the case.
495
:It, once they find out they're going to
take it up, , it does not matter what
496
:that parents say or the child say, the
state actually prosecutes those cases.
497
:So it can, you can have cases where
I've looked some of these things up.
498
:Anybody can look this up online,
um, about, especially here
499
:in Wisconsin, how you can.
500
:If you can just send pictures, if
you're a minor, if you're looking
501
:at pictures, somebody exposed
themselves, you can get charged.
502
:So this is very critical that people
understand what, what's going on
503
:here because they can wake up like
you thinking that it's nothing and
504
:it's easy to do that, considering
our culture that's saturated with
505
:sex, it's, um, you have young girls
walking around improperly dressed.
506
:They look way older than what they are,
and they're so easily can fool men.
507
:I've heard, I've talked to a lot
of men that this has been the case.
508
:They didn't, they thought they was older.
509
:And they didn't check.
510
:They need to check.
511
:Birth certificates do not
believe what they say.
512
:, I'm an advocate where, , the
way God intended it is to be
513
:in the boundaries of marriage.
514
:And this is one of the reasons why.
515
:Because if you get caught outside those
boundaries, you can get locked up.
516
:And it's confusing considering how
people dress, how you have a lot of,
517
:uh, instances and laws where they're
saying where young kids can give
518
:consent, for instance, to do sex
changes, different things like that.
519
:But then in this instance, we
have it where they cannot give
520
:consent to have sexual intercourse.
521
:Anybody would be confused
in that sort of scenario.
522
:So my heart goes out to you,
I suggest you get informed.
523
:That's the reason for this
show, to reduce the recidivism
524
:rate, to keep you out of jail.
525
:And if you go, don't go back.
526
:These are things that you need to
understand is the laws of the land where
527
:you stay because it does impact you.
528
:And if you have young people,
please talk to them about this.
529
:Just sending pictures
of themselves exposed.
530
:On their phones.
531
:It's in the girl for as I'm understanding,
it's not being charged with that boy
532
:is going to be charged for pornography.
533
:Um, even though she doesn't want, even
though the girl may not want to be
534
:charged, but if she was to get angry
at you because you said, I'm not saying
535
:this happened with you, but I'm just
going to say if the girl happens to
536
:get angry, even if you're saying 16.
537
:She's 16.
538
:You all have sex.
539
:You can get charged.
540
:Yeah.
541
:Period.
542
:That's so our audience understand
this and how huge this is and how
543
:this is affecting a lot of people.
544
:And this, you need to be sitting
down because I'm going and doing
545
:adult things like having sex.
546
:You don't understand the consequences
of it and how easy you're on a win.
547
:On a whim of a female saying that
just going and talking about it, it
548
:can get back and get you locked up.
549
:Yeah.
550
:So yes, Mitch is right here.
551
:You all can't see him.
552
:He's understanding exactly what I'm
saying because he has experienced it.
553
:So again, here we are, Mitch,
not much age difference, did
554
:have consent from the young lady.
555
:Wait, Mitch was a werewolf?
556
:that he can get charged.
557
:Just that little bit of information
changed the whole trajectory of your life.
558
:But what we do here, we encourage
because you can learn from this
559
:and Mitch is going to inform more
people because He's living it.
560
:And people, you know, route people to the
show, let them hear this episode because
561
:this is very, very impactful because it's
so easy for someone to get locked up.
562
:This could happen to anybody.
563
:Yeah.
564
:And I just want to say that,
you know, looking back,
565
:I would have did it way differently.
566
:Like, you know, taking the time to get to
know her, you know, I look at my part in
567
:the, in just seeing the red flags and then
looking at the case that she was running.
568
:She was on probation.
569
:She was seeing a psychiatrist.
570
:Had I would have took the time
to get to know her, it would have
571
:probably had a different outcome.
572
:See, I was at the time, I was just
thinking about, Oh, she's into me.
573
:You know, I get to get what I want out
of the situation because what teenage
574
:boy doesn't want to have sex, you know,
and especially if it's agreeable, you
575
:know, and I look at it ruined my life.
576
:Yes.
577
:It can, you know,
everybody, everybody has.
578
:And this one here, in this case, anybody
can get caught up in this situation.
579
:So at the time you weren't at that
age of 18, then you put on some of
580
:the traumas that you're going to,
just not even without the trauma,
581
:you still weren't mentally able to
make decisions like that and let
582
:alone with the other stuff going on.
583
:So yeah.
584
:So.
585
:20 years later, I'm still having rules
that says that I can't do this, I
586
:can't do that, I can't go to the park.
587
:I mean, I'm not gonna say, I don't want
to be too crude here, but we need to
588
:be a little bit, to get a little raw.
589
:Was it worth it?
590
:No, it was not worth it.
591
:Because, like, just, had I would have
known what was at stake, Of like, okay,
592
:if this is what you want to do, these
are the consequences when we talked about
593
:when we started out about being honest.
594
:And then I don't want to be honest
because it comes with punishment.
595
:And I would have known the punishment
of what I would have had to go through
596
:where I have to get approval just to data
adult age appropriate consenting woman.
597
:She has to be my P.
598
:O.
599
:They have to talk about the conviction.
600
:Uh, what if she has kids, you know,
what is the perception of that?
601
:You know, I'm not going out here trying
to groom kids and, uh, you know, on
602
:some, a pedophile or child molester or
predatorial, I just want to have my life
603
:back and I can't go to the lake front
without a chaperone, I can't go to certain
604
:places because public perception is.
605
:Oh, he's he's a sex offender.
606
:You know, lock the doors.
607
:Put it well.
608
:And in fact, if we actually look at it,
it's a lot of people are sex offenders
609
:and just not having to register and
looking at how this case happened.
610
:They can't really point fingers at you.
611
:Yeah, if it's looked at, at this
level, the DOC, they put everybody
612
:in the same category because I'm not
just talking about their, I'm talking
613
:about the culture, the community.
614
:And um, it's like, you see these videos.
615
:And you see these girls imitating
these videos, you know, posture
616
:in their bodies and I'll do, you
know, and it's like, and then you're
617
:saying, Oh, you're a sex offender.
618
:And , you know, our desires are natural.
619
:And then people are getting
triggered by this behavior.
620
:Yeah.
621
:But then.
622
:You want to lock them up, but it's no
accountability on a community side or on
623
:a parent's side in Churches and government
everywhere that this has to be looked
624
:at as well holistically Holistically
because right now you're living in a
625
:hostile environment, you know with this
virus Because it's all these triggers.
626
:That's why they have it.
627
:You can't be on the internet, right?
628
:You um, you can't go to like for you
have to be stopping around you have to
629
:do this This is because they put you in
with how they look at pedophiles Yeah,
630
:and then they got domicile restrictions
too that says if your conviction wasn't
631
:committed in us, uh our city At a
certain time, you can't live in our city.
632
:We're gonna banish you from our city.
633
:And we're gonna force you to be homeless.
634
:And you gotta live over here,
and you gotta bounce around.
635
:And that's what my situation is,
because my, my, my conviction
636
:is out in Wales, Wisconsin.
637
:And Milwaukee has a, uh, an ordinance.
638
:that says that if my conviction
wasn't committed in the city of
639
:Milwaukee prior to 2016, then I can't
reside in the city of Milwaukee.
640
:So now I'm forced to be homeless,
put on a bracelet, a GPS bracelet,
641
:so the DOC can monitor me.
642
:Even though I've had many residents.
643
:I've had many addresses in Milwaukee prior
to the ordinance going in effect, but now
644
:they changed because I was in prison at
the time when they changed the ordinance.
645
:Now I can't live in the city.
646
:Where am I going to go?
647
:I can't go here.
648
:I can't go here.
649
:I can't go here.
650
:I can't go here.
651
:So now I'm just bouncing around.
652
:So how are you here?
653
:This is, should you be here?
654
:Technically, no.
655
:Okay.
656
:But, um, uh, I registered with sort,
which is the sex offender registry.
657
:And then now I have to go ahead and
hear from the department, uh, the police
658
:department to say, if I'm in violation,
which a lot of times they fall through
659
:the cracks or the police going to send
me a, uh, uh, uh, ordinance violation.
660
:So I can challenge it because I want to
get grandfathered in because I've had
661
:many times, uh, residents prior to 2016
in the city mall, and that's why I should
662
:have grounds to be grandfathered in.
663
:So I.
664
:Couldn't reside so I
could be in a safe place.
665
:So you're waiting to hear back
from, how do you say the, the,
666
:the Department of Correction.
667
:Um, I mean, not the Department of
Corrections, the police department
668
:with a violation of the ordinance.
669
:'cause I've already registered here at,
at, um, so you're waiting to hear back?
670
:Yeah.
671
:So how long is that gonna take?
672
:It could take, however, however
long they, they look at it.
673
:So they are looking at it, I don't know.
674
:It could fall through the cracks.
675
:Oh, I'm, I'm believing
that I'm hidden in Christ.
676
:Until I'm all I got ten months of paper
left and I'll be done completely off
677
:of this the third degree sexual assault
case I'll be completed in because I've
678
:been out four years and two months.
679
:Okay, so you won't have to register
anymore I'll have the register 15 years
680
:from now, but I won't have the DOC with
the rule Rules and stuff like that.
681
:I can move to a different I
got family in other states.
682
:So how long do you have again before that?
683
:Ten, ten months.
684
:Ten months.
685
:Yeah.
686
:Is it okay you doing this interview?
687
:Yeah.
688
:Okay.
689
:I, I see why that could
I did an interview.
690
:No, I did an interview
News in:
691
:No, 2016 when they just made
the ordinance with Brad Hicks.
692
:And it's on, uh, Fox 6 News.
693
:You could probably I tried to find him.
694
:I didn't You And when?
695
:When did you have the interview?
696
:I think that's when he left.
697
:I looked, I was looking
at trying to see where.
698
:Cause Brad Hicks is no longer with
Fox and he left around in:
699
:Yeah, he was doing the Fox News interview.
700
:Okay, I have to go back and look
because I was the one I was a big
701
:advocate on trying to get because they
had everybody homeless at that time.
702
:And Mark Weinberg from Chicago was a
lawyer that he actually, uh, represented,
703
:uh, represented, uh, like seven sex
offenders and got the ordinance rescinded.
704
:But there's still an ordinance on it.
705
:Not as extreme.
706
:Okay.
707
:Yeah, I want it.
708
:The reason why I was mentioning this
a little bit because, um, you know,
709
:they say you have a debt to society.
710
:So, which you do, but society
has some accountability as well.
711
:And I want to bring that up
in, you know, to the surface.
712
:So we look at everything.
713
:So
714
:, just to recap what we've been talking
about, we talked about your case,
715
:how you perceive you got there,
what you think could have helped.
716
:you perceive you got there is
because of your broken home.
717
:, some mental issues that was going
on, um, how you were parenting, and
718
:then you looked at how you think
your parents could have helped, uh,
719
:encouragement along with punishment.
720
:What type of punishment do you
think they should have had?
721
:I just think that With my family,
there was a lack of resources just
722
:with the help from the public school
system with the IEP whole situation.
723
:I think if I would have had more mentors,
cause I didn't really, I don't really
724
:remember having a lot of mentors, a
lot of people that were advocates.
725
:Yeah.
726
:But what kind of, because
there is accountability, right?
727
:When, so I won't use the word punishment.
728
:It is accountability.
729
:So what kind of accountability
do you think you should have had?
730
:I mean, When this was going on
is I don't think anything would
731
:work being honest because I
wanted to do what I wanted to do.
732
:I was very rebellious and I don't
think anything, any punishment or
733
:accountability probably would have helped.
734
:Like, so what?
735
:Yeah.
736
:What do you think it should have
happened and how would I think, I
737
:just think that if I would've had
more of a positive influence, more
738
:positive role models and mentors, that
would've been the deterrent for me.
739
:Not to continue my antisocial, but
that, that sounds like, I know, but
740
:you said nothing would've helped.
741
:So how that that would, how is that?
742
:That sound like that would help.
743
:Nothing would have helped as
far as punishment is concerned.
744
:Let me clarify that.
745
:Nothing like taking my games
away or doing this or beating
746
:me or verbally assaulting me.
747
:Like none of that would have worked.
748
:Don't do that.
749
:If I would have had more outlets with
mentorship and advocacy and stuff like
750
:that and having probably a better peer
group, I think that would have helped.
751
:More of a positive reinforcement.
752
:I'm an advocate of both.
753
:I think there should be a balance though.
754
:So, I don't agree with rewarding
bad behavior because that's
755
:going to promote bad behavior.
756
:Um, because you know I come
from a family where I have a
757
:twin brother that's locked up.
758
:He's been in and out and that's
why I do what I do because I want.
759
:Change.
760
:Yeah.
761
:Looking at things.
762
:I'm glad you agree with me.
763
:So I'm trying to see where would
you say the, um, I hate to say
764
:punishment or however you may
say a correction, but you can't.
765
:Just reward or, or ignore an issue.
766
:So what can the parent
thinking about it this way?
767
:What can the parents have done?
768
:And you saying you were very
rebellious, not, it's not that it's, um,
769
:that, you know, you, you put these
things in place to help for boundaries.
770
:I would say to, to let the kid know, and
adults know that there are repercussions.
771
:So if you don't have any, No wonder
they're going to keep, cause they don't
772
:understand that there's accountability.
773
:So my thing is if you would have had
some checks done, man, you know, some
774
:accountability, not the negative stuff,
cause they, they tried the best they
775
:can, but they did it not appropriately
and negative stuff, but it still
776
:should be something in place so that.
777
:You understand it starts to get in your
head like, Hey, there's repercussions.
778
:Like, what are the repercussions?
779
:Cause my son, he would do that.
780
:He, uh, thank God he never went to jail,
but I just sat in his head right away.
781
:There is accountability.
782
:So what he would do and probably
what you would have done in those
783
:circumstances, he'll go right
all the way up to the boundary.
784
:Cause he knew there was coming.
785
:Then he'll come back.
786
:Yeah.
787
:So it's like what I did with him.
788
:Was, uh, uh, you know, some talking
as well as taking away and when some,
789
:cause you catch it small, let him go
through the consequences of it and then
790
:tell him why he's going through it.
791
:Yeah, I didn't have that.
792
:And then, and.
793
:No, it's talk.
794
:Show, show him what it is and tell
him, hey, this is why I'm going
795
:to allow it and I'm going to help.
796
:Sometimes you don't have
to use extension cord.
797
:Yeah, you don't have to
have those talk, right?
798
:No, it's just like you know what
a lot of times you already get the
799
:whooping I don't have to use the belt.
800
:I'm like, I'm telling you this
is a whooping right here This is
801
:what happens when you do this.
802
:So you can understand there's consequences
because if you don't show them this
803
:They're gonna think there is none though.
804
:And then they're gonna get bam Yeah,
you get sideswiped like I didn't
805
:know I didn't know about this.
806
:So anyway, we're wrapping this up
Thank you for it The interview.
807
:I just want to say, um, this
was great and this is something
808
:people need to listen to.
809
:But it's, again, it's getting informed
and I want to cut a verse here.
810
:It says in the Bible, it comes
about talking about mind and
811
:what we're doing here is like,
we're actually renewing our mind.
812
:You're getting the information so
that you'll know how to, , behave
813
:because whatever you think,
that's how you're going to act.
814
:So it says, do not.
815
:conform any longer to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the renewing
816
:of your mind, then you will be able to
test and approve what God's will is.
817
:His good, pleasing and perfect will.
818
:And that's the pleasing and perfect
will is for you to be healthy, for
819
:you, for the community to be safe.
820
:Yeah.
821
:You know, for you not to.
822
:Escalate like you did in getting
into other crimes because that was
823
:just the start and it escalated.
824
:So where do you think you're at now?
825
:Well, I'm in recovery right now and
really re evaluating what, where
826
:did it all start, you know, and
counteracting these strongholds.
827
:Are you taking responsibility?
828
:Yeah, I'm taking responsibility.
829
:I'm med compliant now.
830
:I've been clean for six months
now off all drugs and alcohol.
831
:That's great.
832
:Um, I'm currently in In hope through
restoration Sober living house.
833
:This is a great place.
834
:I'm here.
835
:Yeah.
836
:And, um, I hope it's more like this.
837
:Yeah.
838
:LT Austin, he runs this program
so everybody that you know,
839
:he's should know about this.
840
:And he's so accountable because
he actually talks to you.
841
:Mm-Hmm.
842
:. I've had men leave my whole life.
843
:Mm-Hmm.
844
:never led.
845
:We need, yeah.
846
:We need more strong men like that.
847
:Yeah.
848
:So you.
849
:So we're wrapping this up,
you're saying that you're taking
850
:responsibility, you've forgiven your
parents, have you forgiven yourself?
851
:Yeah, I have.
852
:Have you forgiven yourself?
853
:Yes, I have.
854
:Okay, good.
855
:Because a lot of people have guilt
and they can't forgive themselves.
856
:Yeah, and that's just to honor
who I am as far as God's creation.
857
:You know, I have to love myself.
858
:So I love my neighbor as myself.
859
:So that starts with self.
860
:, I thank you for this interview.
861
:Thank you.
862
:A lot of people, I'm pretty sure is
going to get a lot of, a lot of value
863
:out of this because this is, , for
family members, for people that locked
864
:up as well as people involved in the
justice system, as well as, um, you
865
:know, judges, lawyers, all advocates.
866
:is that it's working , in this type
of deal and plus being able to help
867
:people that's reentering, especially
people that , have a sex case because
868
:it's reentry is harder for them than.
869
:for people that don't have it.
870
:And again, we talked about the Christian
perspective, , how God looks at this
871
:and we looked at our community holding
our community accountable as well
872
:because they are accountable as well.
873
:Not just yourself, but that
doesn't excuse how you should be
874
:responding and behaving as well.
875
:And I'm glad to see that
you you're forgiven.
876
:Have you forgiven the community?
877
:Yes, I have because I know I have
to take accountability in the things
878
:that I do at the end of the day.
879
:I have a choice in the matter.
880
:And so what I do, it affects not only
me, but it affects everybody else.
881
:That was the end of my
interview with Mitch Stu Pika.
882
:We really thank him.
883
:It is so good to have
someone be so transparent.
884
:When they're being transparent.
885
:We can help.
886
:Everybody can help.
887
:People like Mitch.
888
:When he gets to information and we write
reinforcements . Of accountability and
889
:him understanding the ramifications.
890
:We stop a lot of them
getting into trouble.
891
:They simply at times.
892
:Just don't know.
893
:But if we talk to them, give them
reinforcements, validate them.
894
:Make sure they're heard, but
also make sure he understands
895
:the consequences again.
896
:Mitch Stu Pika.
897
:Is a great young man with a lot of talent.
898
:In the show notes, I'm going
to be attaching his video with
899
:Fox six, as well as his video.
900
:That he may wit an amazing song
as you would see, he's amazingly.
901
:Talented with so much to give.
902
:To our community I'm pretty sure
you're going to be seeing much more.
903
:Mitch Stu Pika.
904
:Going about trying to tell
other people how not to go.
905
:Down the path that he did.
906
:Thank you again for listening to the show.
907
:May you have a weak field with blessings?
