Charles Manson in the news again
Charlie just can not seem to behave and stay out of trouble even in prison. I mean, I am sure he had no idea that his follower (yes, Charlie still has plenty of them) was trying to sneak him a cell phone. Just like Charlie had no clue that his other followers were murdering people.
CORCORAN, Calif. — A follower of Charles Manson has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle a cell phone inside a California prison where the mass murderer is housed, authorities said Tuesday.
Craig Carlisle Hammond, 63, was arrested Sunday for investigation of conspiracy, possession of an illegal communication device and attempting to bring a cell phone into a prison, said Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections.
He was taken to jail and was released after posting bail. He is scheduled to be in court next month.
Hammond had a wrist watch cell phone that was found by a correctional officer at Corcoran State Prison in an area where the device is prohibited, authorities said. The phone never got into Manson’s hands.
However, the notorious cult leader who is serving a life sentence for orchestrating a series of gruesome murders more than 40 years ago has been caught with a smuggled cell phone twice in the past four years.
In 2009, Manson was found with a phone and he had been calling and texting people in California, Florida, New Jersey and British Columbia. Two years ago, he also was found with a phone.
Recent legislation in California makes it a misdemeanor to smuggle a cell phone into a prison, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000.
Hammond goes by the name Gray Wolf that was given to him by Manson and regularly visits the 78-year-old, according to the Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/10fOUVL).
Manson has been caught with a cellphone in his cell twice. Manson called people in California, New Jersey and Florida with an LG flip phone found under his prison bunk in March 2009. For the offense, 30 days were added to his sentence. The cult leader was again found with a cellphone in his cell Jan. 6, 2011.
That fall, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a Senate bill that makes it a misdemeanor to possess an unauthorized cellphone in prison or to try to take one into a prison. Violators face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
The proliferation of cellphones in prisons is a significant public safety concern, officials say. Inmates have run street gangs from behind bars, intimidated witnesses and orchestrated assaults on guards, they said. In 2011, 15,000 cellphones were found inside prisons.
Manson sees few visitors, but Hammond is among his regulars. Hammond controls a copyright on Manson’s music and is a self-described follower of the the inmate.
A Manson website maintained by followers and believers of Manson’s ATWA group –an acronym for Air, Trees, Water, Animals — reported that Gray Wolf was detained at Level 4 visitation entrance. According to the website, Manson was meeting with another friend when Gray Wolf was detained by guards. Manson and the two visitors were subsequently searched and the two visitors also consented to their vehicles being searched. Gray Wolf was then taken into custody and asked for a lawyer, according to the website.
I am not linking to ATWA, if you are curious it is easy to find.
I actually giggled when I read this article. Do not get me wrong, it is sad, disturbing and a concern that Manson still has people willing to go to jail for him but the fact that the dummy was busted and Charlie did not get his way makes me happy.
I kind of felt like this
His crimes are in no way a joke but really, his legacy has become one to most people.
People have not forgotten, it is just that many see him as something to make fun of rather than to follow and that’s not such a bad thing.
It would have been better to rid the world of him, but I can stomach him being an object of ridicule (by most) much better than as an object to follow.
Real Life Monsters 