Legal Question in Legal Ethics in California

I was arrested in 1968 in San Pedro California. it was for robbing 3 cabs. I was in the Navy at the time and AWOL. I was picked up walking the streets late night and AWOL. the next thing I knew I was being charged with first degree robbery. They said the drivers picked my picture out, I asked them to have them see me and say it was me, this I was sure would free me of the charges. They took me to a room and a man said ( yes that is him ) Where was anyone for my defence at the time. I was with a girlfriend at the time of one, and I was in a dry cleaning buisness during the time of a second, where the woman would have been a good solid wittness as she was looking at the clock the whole time I was there as she had an appointment. A few weeks later when I had my arraienment, I finally saw my public defender for the first time during the hearing. He came back to the holding cell after at which time I told him about the 2 cabs that I was somewhere else during. He told me ( I am sorry but I don't have time to check your alibi ). I can still here them woords to this day. I called the base to ask for a jag lawyer and was told they would not be able to assest me. I was innocent and could not believe what was happenning to me. I was neieve of what was happenning. Then on top of all that I was soddomized while waiting trial. I nad told the guards and for my cooperation I was mooved to a single cell. How I made it out in one piece was luck. I had a friend from church find an attorney who took the case for no fee. Though by the time he came on board he said the people who could have said where I was would probably not remember that long ago. I had a judge who was easy if I would plead guilty to 2nd degree robbery or look at 5 years if I fought the case. Hellow.. I had no case since the public defender sold me down the river. If I went to prison I would not have lasted but a few days as having been a snitch. So now I need to find someone who can help me get this cleared up. maybe some law school in the area. There has got to be something that can be done and someone who can do it. The conviction held me back from going very far for a long time. besides not holding public office and so forth. The biggest thing is not being able to be a member of the VFW. This is the main reason I need to fight this. I was a member and then they found I had a bad discharge mainly due to the conviction. The state VFW leaders in Wisconsin said I could stay in as long as I did not hold office again and no one complained. All it took was one jelous person to kill that. I served In the VFW and because of what I was doing for the troops and haveing brought the traveling Viet Nam wall to our area. all the times I was interviewed on the news and other programs. I made the state VFW take notice of our area, I brought many new members into the VFW and so on and so on. I want my membership back. This can't happen with just a pardon. I need to show my case was handled improply and cleared. Please help me. E Mail [email protected], 715-726-2358, Lawrenci Ivan Podwys, 1031 Evergreen Lane, Chippewa Falls, WI. 54729

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