61-Year-Old Died in Jail Because She Couldn't Afford $300 Bond
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Page 6 ~ THE VILLAGER/December 28, 2018 THE DISPATCH www.theaustinvillager.com 61-year-old died in jail because LAUNCH THE NEW YEAR WITH TOP JAZZ ARTISTS AT ONE WORLD THEATRE she couldn’t afford $300 bond By Naomi Richard | VILLAGER Entertainment By Defender News Service (DEFENDER NEWS) - An elderly woman’s due to her condition and death in a Texas jail again listed a long history of shed light on America’s arrests and issues with controversial cash bail mental wellness as con- system, which continu- tributing factors. In an ously fails communities interview with Refin- of color. ery29, Dotson- On Friday, Janice Stephens’ family paints a Dotson-Stephens, 61, portrait of a loving, car- succumbed to cardio- ing grandmother of 10, vascular disease while who struggled with de- she was interned at the pression and “paranoid Bexar County Detention Dotson-Stephens tendencies.” Center annex in San An- poverty line. However, authori- tonio, Texas, according If prisoners are un- ties claim Dotson- able to meet the bond, Stephens had no next of to KSAT. A medical exam- Marsha Ambrosius speaks during the 2018 Essence Music Festival which usually requires a kin listed and would re- iner ruled she died of in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo by Naomi Richard. natural causes. payment set at 10 per- quire a court order to Dotson-Stephens cent of the total, they transfer her to a hospi- (VILLAGER NEWS) - with an equally thriving Marsha Ambrosius. spent five months in jail have to sit out the rest tal if she showed signs of Austin’s Jazz Headquar- presence in the field of Ambrosius catalogs two stemming from a July 19 of their days in jail until mental illness. ters, better known as music education. transformative years via arrest over charges on a trial date is set. In “She had people One World Theatre, Spyro Gyra appears the 16 impassioned, irre- criminal trespassing. Be- Dotson-Stephen’s case, who loved her and fam- continues to deliver top on February 8. The sistible, and inimitable cause of the cash bail the bond would’ve to- ily who would have eas- jazz artists for your live highly talented artists anthems comprising her system, which allows in- taled to $30. ily paid the $30 to get music entertainment. represent the story of a third full-length album, mates and prisoners to According to KSAT, her out of jail if that’s Upcoming artists include group with humble be- NYLA. After co-founding pay for bond while they Dotson-Stephens’ family what we had to do to such greats as Walter ginnings in Buffalo, NY the gold-certified and await trial, Dodson- allege they were un- take the next step,” Beasly, Spyro Gyra and which has continued to influential, Floetry, she Stephens sat in jail over aware of her arrest. Leticia Dotson said. the recently announced reach an international went on to pen tunes a $300 bond. “We just felt that The family will hold Marsha Ambrosius. For audience for the past for Michael Jackson, A bond can be ar- she shouldn’t have died a service for their matri- the One World Theatre’s forty-five years. Spyro Alicia Keys and Jamie ranged or taken out by a as a criminal in the jail- arch on December 28, complete lineup visit Gyra experienced sales Foxx before launching a family member or some- house,” Dotson- according to Refinery29. www.oneworldtheatre.org. of over 10 million al- successful solo career. one who has enough Stephen’s daughter-in “If your family has Saxophonist bums and has played Ambrosius’ 2011 debut, money to cover the law, Leticia Dotson, said a mental illness, it’s not Walter Beasley per- more than five thousand Late Nights & Early bond requirement. But in an interview with the in their control,” Dotson forms January 19. Over shows on five conti- Mornings, reigned at as advocates against the outlet. “She wasn’t a continued. “She the past three decades, nents. The group has ac- number one on the Bill- bond system argue, mat- criminal. She had mental shouldn’t die as a crimi- Beasley has artfully and complished this due to a board Top R&B/Hip-Hop ters become compli- health illness.” nal. They should die as, dynamically redefined forward-looking ap- Albums Chart, number cated when family mem- Dotson claims the ‘This person had a men- the phrase “musical Re- proach combined with two on the Top 200 and bers are living on fixed family believed she was tal illness and this is naissance Man” for the the work ethic of an un- yielded hits such as the incomes, or below the admitted to a hospital what happened.’” modern generation. derdog — always chal- GRAMMY-nominated Sunday, December 30th | 12:00 PM | on FOX Considered by fans and lenging them to do “Far Away” and “Hope critics alike as the “heir something new while She Cheats On You (With to Grover Washington, never resting on past A Basketball Player).” COWBOYS Jr.’s Throne,” he is the success. Spyro Gyra has Her follow-up release, acclaimed saxophonist, released 29 albums, Friends & Lovers, went @ vocalist, educator, and achieving one Platinum to number two on entrepreneur of the de- and two Gold Albums. R&B/Hip-Hop Albums GIANTS cade. As the highest Spyro Gyra’s 2013 re- Chart and number 12 selling full-time Profes- lease, A Foreign Affair, on the Top 200. She sor / Recording Artist in peaked at number two was invited by The history, the Boston- on the Billboard charts. Obamas to perform at Housing Authority based musician has Finally, One World The White House for of the long mastered an ex- Theatre’s most recently The National Christmas hilarating high wire act announced addition Tree Lighting. City of Austin of balancing a success- scheduled for March 8, Tickets are now on ful career as a contem- is GRAMMYâ Award- sale for all performances Established in 1937 porary jazz recording nominated soul singer, at www. one world artist and performer songwriter and pianist theatre.org. PUBLIC NOTICE CLOSURE OF HACA HOUSING WAITING LISTS Texas Inmate Faces April Execution Due to estimated wait times greater than 36 months, HACA will be closing the for 1998 Dragging Death following housing waiting lists effective 1/23/2019 AT 5:00 pm CST: By The Associated Press • Gaston Place – one and two bedrooms • Santa Rita Courts – two, three and four bedrooms • Thurmond Heights – two bedroom New applications for this waiting list will not be accepted while it is closed. If you are interested in applying for the above mentioned waiting list before it closes, please visit www.hacaapply.org. HACA does not discriminate on the basis of disability status in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its federally assisted programs and activities. The following person has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in HUD’s regulations implementing Section 504: Vice President of Housing & Community Development, 1124 S. IH 35, Austin, TX 78704, (512)477-4488: TTY: (800) 735-2989 or 711 Voice Relay. Byrd, Jr. King NOTICIA PÚBLICA JASPER, TX (AP) — A murder trial. CIERRE DE LAS LISTAS DE ESPERA man condemned for the King was one of three DE VIVIENDA DE HACA 1998 dragging death of a White men convicted in the Debido a los tiempos de espera estimados de más de 36 Black man in East Texas June 1998 death of James meses, HACA cerrará las siguientes listas de espera de vivienda a partir del 1/23/2019 a las 5:00 p.m. CST: has been scheduled for ex- Byrd, Jr.. ecution next year. Byrd was chained to a • Gaston Place– one and two bedrooms • Santa Rita Courts – two, three and four bedrooms John William King pickup truck and dragged • Thurmond Heights – two bedroom faces lethal injection April along a road near Jasper, No se aceptarán nuevas solicitudes para estas listas de espera, mientras que las listas 24. District Judge Craig about 125 miles (201.16 ki- estén cerradas. Si usted está interesado en solicitar una de las listas de espera Mixson signed the execu- lometers) northeast of anteriormente mencionadas antes de que se cierren, por favor visite www.hacaapply.org. tion order Friday. Houston. The U.S. Supreme A second man con- La Autoridad de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Austin no discrimina por razones de raza, sexo, color, religión, estado civil, situación familiar, origen nacional, edad, embarazo, discapacidad, Court in October denied an victed in Byrd’s death has ascendencia, u orientación sexual en el acceso a, la admisión en, o empleo en los programas o actividades de vivienda. La posición mencionada abajo ha sido designada para coordinar el appeal for King, who been executed. The third cumplimiento de los requisitos de no discriminación contenidos en el reglamento de aplicación de la Sección 504 del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano. Título: Vicepresidente de claimed he had ineffective man is serving life in Desarrollo de Vivienda y Comunidad, 1124 S. I-35, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 477-4488; TTY (800) 735-2989 o 7-1-1 lawyers during his capital prison..