Facing Arizona: Won’t let prison time stop me from having productive life

Editor’s note: Facing Arizona is a series that will appear on KTAR.com and social media  — follow KTAR News on Instagram and Facebook for updates — highlighting unique and everyday people across our state and give you a glimpse into their lives.

My name is David, and I am a convicted felon. I have served more time in prison than I have out of prison.

I am currently on parole and will be for two and a half more years.

While incarcerated, I completed my high school equivalency and took vocational training courses to become a maintenance mechanic on commercial vehicles. I also concentrated on classes to help me with my writing and vocabulary skills.

Part of my release hinged on the fact that I was able to find work before I got out.

I spent three months in a halfway house before I was able to rent my apartment. I was a little ashamed at first, still having to see a parole officer every week but now not so much.

I’m hoping, after the first of the year, to take some courses at the community college. I believe that will help me keep moving forward.

Right now, what I want most is to keep doing normal things like normal people do: meet someone and fall in love, go grocery shopping with that person, have a night out with friends, go to a company Christmas party, pay my taxes — you know, the normal stuff people do.

I was guilty of the crime I was accused of committing, I have never denied that but I have done my time, and I have paid my debt. I want to get on with my life and keep doing the right thing. — David