Convict's Confession: Why I Can't Stay Out Of Jail

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" I Have A Problem With Alcohol"
Posted: 6:44 PM Jul 16, 2008
Last Updated: 7:53 PM Jul 16, 2008
Reporter: Sherelle Roberts
Email Address: sherelle.roberts@wkyt.com

20 comments

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He had a second chance at freedom, and threw it away.

Now back in jail ,Richard Roberts is speaking out.

The Stamping Ground native was one of nearly 900 inmates to be given time credits, leading to their early release from prison. Roberts received a credit for 1,006 days.

Out of jail three years early, he says he had a whole new outlook on life. That's what he says, but only weeks after he was released, police say he drove drunk and plowed his pick-up truck through the side of a Lexington home.

Police say alcohol was to blame. Roberts said he had been drinking, but believes that wasn't the only factor in the crash. Roberts does admit he has a drinking problem.

"It's been the downfall of my life, anybody that has an alcohol problem jail can't help them, they have to want to help themselves," he said.

Roberts inferred that in during all of his jail time he never was able to get a handle his alcohol problem, and that's what landed him right back where he started.

But he says this time, he's learned his lesson and he's made a vow to himself. "I'll never pick up the bottle again," he said.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: CLAY on Jul 19, 2008 at 01:08 PM
THANKS GOVORNOR BUT THESE GUYSMISS THEIR BOYFRIENDS

Posted by: Concerned Location: KY on Jul 19, 2008 at 11:33 AM
This is just the beginning. They are letting convicts out early left and right, either by parole or by giving them credit for their time on the street while on parole previously. These people aren't going to help themselves. They have a "party all the time" mentality and they won't quit using drugs or drinking until they are ready. They don't care. Rehab, jail, parole officers, family members, etc. can all try to help them but if they don't want to help themselves, they aren't going to do quit. The state is giving them feet and they are taking miles. The state has basically said, hey, you've won. We give up. The best place for these people is prison. Law abiding, tax paying citizens should be outraged at this whole situation. The state will end up spending the same amount of money for these people. Instead of the money being spent in the corrections budget more of it will start going to the court's budget for prosecuting them for the new crimes that they WILL commit.

Posted by: correctional employee on Jul 18, 2008 at 11:18 PM
They make their own "hooch" in prison. Fruit,water,yeast(in the form of bread) and sugar. Thats all it takes. Easy enough to sneak that back to your cell after lunch. Trust me, they hide it in places where it wont be found in a regular patdown...

Posted by: Fred Location: Lexington on Jul 18, 2008 at 04:50 PM
I just think he likes "shower time".

Posted by: Joey Location: Lex on Jul 18, 2008 at 12:48 PM
He said he couldn't get a handle on his drinking problem while in prison. Quick question...Who the hell gave him access to alcohol in prison? DETOX anybody? His only confession should be that he's a low life, no good scum who has no self control, no sense of responsibility, no concern for others and their property and that he never sought help on his own and only wants to blame someone else for not getting him help in prison when he BROKE THE LAW. And for tabatha from frankfort; quit your crying about the guy. If you dated him for years and knew he had a problem but didn't offer help, you were an enabler. People like him make me sick. Wah wah wah!

Posted by: L.G Location: RICHMOND on Jul 17, 2008 at 11:26 PM
I JUST HAVE TO ASK!!!!!!!!!! IS HE KIN TO MELBORNE MILLS????????????

Posted by: Jessica Location: Prestonsburg on Jul 17, 2008 at 03:12 PM
I have to say that I have a small amount of compassion for people like this. My older brother isan alcoholic and has had two DUI's in the last several years. The first time, the court ordered him to take AA classes, which he drove himself to after they also suspended his license. Turns out, he conned his way into getting the papers signed stating that he attended the classes when he really didn't. The second time he was arrested, he was locked up for seven days and then released with yet again a suspended license. Don't these idiot judges get it? AA classes rarely work and if you have incompetent people running them, then they definately won't work. Repeat alcoholic offenders such as my brother, should be placed in a residential treatment center until they are viewed as being well enough to leave. My family doesn't have the money to send my brother to a res. facilty, like many other families needing help. The state should spend money on getting these people help instead of cable t.v.

Posted by: L Location: Wyoming on Jul 17, 2008 at 01:21 PM
While addiction is an illness you made the choice to pick up the bottle in the beginning and apparently you are still making that choice. Part of the problem is criminals are given too many chances. It is called accountability and responsibility. Start living it!

Posted by: John Location: Lexington on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Use the drunk defense!, Jamie Barnett did and he practically got away with killing a police officer.

Posted by: Renea Location: Williamsburg on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:12 PM
This is a prime example of why they need to be rehabilitated somewhere other than jail if they are caught with or on drugs or alcohol. I am married to a recovering acoholic and I see how hard he struggles to stay sober. God bless everyone with this sickness. It's certainly NOT any fun for the family members left to clean and care for these people. Get him some help. Send him to rehab for a year, not jail. He'll definately dry out but what about the problems BEHIND the acohol. He needs help.

Posted by: jess Location: lexington on Jul 17, 2008 at 11:36 AM
I really feel sorry for this guy. I agree that when sober, he is probably a great guy, however from my own experience, alcohol is a hard addiction to break. It allows a person to escape life for awhile. They becaome different people and only once the sober up do they truly rwalize the extent of damage caused by poor choices. You have to want to be sober. You have to seek treatment. However first and foremost, you have to love yourself. Seek God and learn how to control the urge. I think that he should be court ordered to spend time in a rehab facility. unfortunatly most require high fees and many can't afford. Many people treat alcohilics as just that. Truly it is an illness.

Posted by: Chris Location: Lexington on Jul 17, 2008 at 10:49 AM
This was our goofy GOVS plan to let these criminals out early. You voted for Beshear and shame on the majority of you for it. Alcohol is a minor offense, wait to your house gets robbed or more drugs roll as Beshear cuts funding to Operation Unite and the KSP. Beshear is a disgrace and maybe this guy would have stood a chance if he had served his due time. McCain/McConnell 2008!

Posted by: Kevin Location: Kentucky on Jul 17, 2008 at 10:45 AM
I wish media outlets would quit giving these two-bit punks their 15 minutes of fame.

Posted by: Whine some more Location: ky on Jul 17, 2008 at 09:36 AM
IF THIS IDIOT KNEW IT WAS GOING TO LAND HIM BACK IN JAIL.....WHY CRY ABOUT IT NOW? LET HIM STAY IN THERE HE MUST LIKE IT!!

Posted by: Julie Location: Winchester on Jul 17, 2008 at 09:12 AM
This guy is so full of it, the only reason he says he has learned his lesson this time is he wants out of jail. If he had such a big problem and knew it before getting out, he should have went and sought help immediatly.

Posted by: M Location: Lexington on Jul 17, 2008 at 08:22 AM
I hope he can do stay away from the booze and take control of his life. He is too young to waste the rest of it behind bars or being drunk.

Posted by: tabatha Location: frankfort on Jul 17, 2008 at 08:12 AM
I know him and have dated him before for yrs actually... Richard is a great guy and his family is wonderful but he is right jail wont help no one with drinking problems ... people have to want to help themselfs or nothing will get better.

Posted by: Kenedal Location: Lexington on Jul 17, 2008 at 07:41 AM
Roberts is correct about ONE thing, he MUST want to stop himself, no one can do it for him to include jail. However, when he makes the statement he will never pick up the bottle again, one has to ask, WHY did he make that statement, because HE IS sitting back in jail again and wants OUT? He definitely could benefit from some LONG TERM RESIDENTIAL treatment! I say send him to a LONG TERM facility, if he is not successful, back to jail!!! He does deserve the chance to stay sober!

Posted by: Zatoichi Location: Richmond on Jul 17, 2008 at 07:35 AM
Sounds like the same old outlook on life to me. Guess he did not know there is a law against DUI, he must of missed that one while in prison. How much liquor does he drink in prison?

Posted by: Steve Location: KY. on Jul 17, 2008 at 07:21 AM
That's what happens when you release these sicko's early. If he had served his full sentence, he would have dried out. The judge who released them should be charged with every crime that they committ. There are enough lowlife criminals out running around, without releasing the ones already in custody!!!

Posted by: Doc Location: Web on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Yeah this guy is good to go, put him on the top of the list for another 1,000 some days jail credit and let him out early. He has so much to lose in jail/prison-3 free meals a day, free T.V., can order out food if he wants, really nice recreational activities, free clothing, FREE HEALTHCARE!!! all paid for by the hard working taxpayers. They even force these guy's to take job's and work maybe 2 to 3 hours a day. Some prison's even allow conjungal visits.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Lexington on Jul 16, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Why do I not believe that he'll never pick up another bottle again? Maybe because he doesn't want to believe it himself. One thing that I also thought was interesting in the interview on TV was that he said he was a really good person who had made a lot of bad choices...if he believes that, then at what point does he believe that maybe he isn't as good of a person as he thinks he is, that he is a marginal person who is using alcohol as his excuse to make bad choices, and maybe he doesn't make good choices at all because he chooses not to, that it's easier to feed his addiction than to use his God-given willpower and instincts to do something good with his life? If there's a person that needs God, this man is it. But he has to want God, because God has always wanted him and this man has chosen everything but God to turn to for his problems. I pray for his redemption and recovery, but from his track record until he gets serious about his life, it's not going to happen on its own.

Posted by: inside man Location: in the action on Jul 16, 2008 at 09:42 PM
OK, how many times have we been told this check's in the mail song and dance, we cannot make any efforts to get inmates to get help, only recommend and then we cannot take any action against inmates if they refuse, best we can do is let our inmates play video games. Prisons need to have real re-entry programs for inmates, and staff need to be allowed to classify inmates in such ways we get inmates like this in programs they need in, until then we will never stop the revolving door.

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