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Cullen's Story

My name is Cullen Parsons, I was a 22 year old attending Owens Community College with aspirations of achieving a degree in physics. I enjoyed hanging out with friends, family, and playing with my little brother.

I was not always the best individual & I made mistakes that I have learned from, but I did not do this. In my opinion, there are a lot of individuals in prison who are innocent. Our system measures success on statics like conviction rates, that turns a blind eye to accuracy & rewards prosecutors at any cost. Our legal system is inequitable. This is a reality that prosecutors & the majority of attorneys have become

all too comfortable with.

I speak, even though currently in a cell, from a place of privilege, because my family has chosen to fight for me & has the resources to do so. But everyday I stare into the eyes of those who do not.
 

cullen photo 1.jpg

Order of Events

September 2, 2015

  -20:37 Kyle Kern calls the Henry County Sheriff Dept. 

-Called from his home phone number (noted in police report), but testified he called from a cell phone, while out running. 

-Time according to the CAD recording system.

-This information was not provided to the defense until 2023. 

-No one is injured.

-20:53 Time of the Supposed "Crime" 

-Call originally provided in 2015 by prosecution does not include time/date. Unusual for a CAD system.

-Deputy Saneholtz testifies, "...that was the time we came up with."

-Kyle Kern cannot be reached for 8 minutes after his call to the Sheriff's Office.

-Dispatcher Zach Lyne says, "...he will fix that later..."

-Later the scene is searched by Officer Glanz and K9 Andy nothing found, casings are only found in the cul de sac where Cullen admits to shooting near the field earlier that day.

-21:12 Cullen Arrested

-Sheriff Bodenbender arrives at the Parsons' property in civilian clothing, gun drawn/pointed, & immediately orders Cullen to the ground.

-There is no investigation or questioning before this.

-Cullen states he is kicked in the face by the Sheriff.

-Numerous items are removed from the Parsons' property without permission or requested search warrant.

September 3, 2015

  -21:19 Cullen Receives Message from Girlfriend
-Cullen had been on the phone with his then girlfriend all evening including the time of the supposed crime. ----  -Aiysa testifed to this at Cullen's Trial.
-Aiysa texts the following message: "Baby are you okay? They can't arrest you if you didn't do anything"

September 3, 2015

  -22:42 Cullen Transported/ Arrives at ER  
-Cullen is transported with the Sheriff despite already reporting that he had physically assaulted him.
-Complete hospital records have been impossible to attain, what we have been provided claims no signs of injury (differs from CCNO) despite having a CT of head/neck area and released him with discharge instuctions "Head Injury - With Wake Up". The records fail to note the time blood was taken for a search warrant (signed at 23:56).

September 3, 2015

-1:06 Cullen Arrives at CCNO
​  -He is immediately sent to the infirmary for injuries, which is noted as "head trauma" on his medical records and is monitored closely. This injury resulted in a softball sized bumped to the back right side of his head that he still has today. 

September 8, 2015

-Kyle Kern Finds Evidence
-The supposed victim was the only one to find a casing at the scene of the crime several days later despite having numerous officers & trained K9 unit out the night of the crime.

September 16, 2015

-CPO Trial Kyle Kern vs. Craig & MiChelle Parsons 
-Kyle claims he is in fear for his life against threat of the Parsons' family & is scared to leave his house, yet days earlier he found evidence while out on a jog.

September 17, 2015

  -Criminal Informant Speaks to Defiance Co. MAN Unit 
-Rolando Valle arrested on three counts drug trafficking & one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, as well as a lengthy record with 14 previous charges. He offers little to no information on his co-conspirators. 
-Rolando states that Cullen talked to him one on one, "just him and Cullen", about shooting at a random jogger to try out his gun, he later testifies evasively that he spoke to Cullen "we were all in a group, not one on one", that they did not discuss why Cullen was imprisoned, and that everyone knew what he was in CCNO for, because it was in the paper, & that he overheard the conversion and that "I thought he said that he shot somebody that was running".

September 19, 2015

  -Criminal Informant Speaks to Henry Co. Deputy Sanholtz 
  -Rolando Valle is interviewed by Deputy Sanholtz to provide an account of what he has heard.

October 1, 2015

-Rolando Released & Cullen's Charges Increased 
-Following the undisclosed conversation with the MAN Unit & the interview with Deputy Sanholtz, Rolando Valle's bond is reduced from $250,000 to an OR Bond (Own Recognizance). 
-The same day, Cullen's charges increase from felonious assault to attempted murder.

December 1, 2015

-Asiya's served with Search Warrant & Phone is Taken 
-Cullen's then girlfriend's white iPhone is taken & sent to BCI for analysis, these records are not shared with the defendant despite being requested numerous times. We have continued to request & still NOT recieved these records.
-Additionally, she was questioned at that time & there is no records of this nor her answers. 

January 6, 2016

  -Motion to Compel is Filed
-This motion requests the following:
           1. A chain of custody for the vehicle law enforcement seized;
           2. A police report indicating how the Defendant’s vehicle was damaged while in police custody;
           3. Any and all lab results from any forensic testing conducted, including any and all tests for gun shot residue;
           4. If it was determined to not conduct gun shot residue testing on the Defendant’s person, police reports indicating such; and
           5. Analysis of any and all other evidence seized in connection with this case, including the phone taken from the Defendant’s girlfriend.

None of these items were ever acknowledged or provided.

March 7-8, 2016

-Cullen's Trial
-Cullen stands trial for attempted murder in a case where no one is hurt.

March 16, 2016

-Rolando Plea Hearing 
-At this hearing, Prosecutor Murray states, “I believe there has been a complete exchange of information."

January 31, 2017 

  -CI, Rolando Valle, Judicial Release Hearing
- At this hearing The Court states:
"you understand you also have virtually a ten-year prison term hanging .... over your head."
"It's a fairly simple concept, follow the rules you stay out. Don't follow the rules, you have a huge prison term to serve."
-Rolando Valle is released after serving very little time with serious charges, with a balance of a 9 year 11 month term, minus credit for time served, if he violates his probation.

And Counting...

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