As you’ll read this story, you will probably think that it’s not real, and I don’t blame you, because at first I thought the same thing. I thought that Valerie Carlton’s story seems to have been picked up from the twilight zone and would better fit in a horror movie. It even crossed my mind, and asked myself how is it possible in the 21st century United States of America-where an individual is [or should be] considered innocent until proven guilty-stripped, first, of her parental rights, then of her constitutional rights, thrown in jail, abused and maltreated by the prison’s officials, based on no more than mere allegations, and unsubstantiated stories, and no one seems to lift a finger to help her.
Valerie Carlton is a Jewish mother from Maryland. She was married to Russell Carlton for six years from 2000 to 2006.
“I met Russ in 1994. We lived together from 1996 until 2000 when we were married in Oct. 10,2000.” Valerie said.
A child-Winnifer Hope Carlton, born August 29, 2002- resulted from their marriage.
Valerie Carlton divorced Russell Carlton in early 2006, after six years of marriage and many documented acts of domestic violence against her.
“Russ became physically, sexually, financially, spiritually, and emotionally abusive of me, and dangerously negligent to our infant, Winnifer. He was also convicted of assault. I initiated the divorce with assistance from a battered woman's organization and shelter in Harford County, Maryland by the name of SARC"
According to Valerie after she had obtained a restraining order against Russell for domestic violence, he made various unsuccessful attempts to terminate her parental rights; she said that court records document her ex-husband's attempts to interfere with, and prevent her visitations.
Russell Carlton made it clear in recorded statements that he intends for his daughter never to see her mother again, or have any contact with her, and that he is only comfortable when the mother is incarcerated.
Apparently, Russell Carlton-a Southern Baptist Christian- turned against his wife when she first voiced objections to raising their child strictly by the New Testament and began introducing Jewish observance and practice to her daughter, such as lighting Sabbath candle. It appears that the father objected to this and that it was considered by the court improper behavior on the mother's part. Valerie Carlton says that Russell Carlton received overwhelming support of a county-wide Christian majority as well as direct intervention from church members who hold public office, especially in the Sheriff's Department.
He eventually gained sole custody, about a year later, based on false testimony from various witnesses.
“I have solid evidence, and tangible data to support, and confirm all of the information I share. A legal, and state media war was launched against me. My home was searched and seized, our door battered down, swat team attacked me, media cameras, incarceration, torture... Much happened and continues because of his unrelenting false allegations against me." she said.
Valerie says that Russell and his mother had convinced Winnifer’s teacher, that Valerie was abusing her daughter.
She is convinced, that following a report alleging sexual abuse, filed by Winnifer's teacher with Anne Arundel County, Maryland's CPS, and the false testimony of Russell Carlton and his witnesses, Sheriff's office in Harford County did not hesitate, and charged Valerie with 28 felony counts, including sexual abuse, and claims of pedophilia by Ms. Carlton on her own six year old daughter. Video recorded interrogations, show Winnifer saying that she wanted to see her mommy more, and she also stated that her father's nephew was exposing himself to her, and implicating her father's female neighbor.
Valerie said that no investigation was made concerning the older boy's inappropriate behavior, or the female neighbor.
She also states that positive reports about her character, and fitness as a mother were considered to be superficial by the court, and were not taken in consideration.
Valerie said that, both, the search warrant and the charging document for the criminal charges against her, state that she was an Orthodox Jew who practiced Jewish customs with her daughter whenever they were together.
She believes that she was falsely arrested and imprisoned based on false allegations, testimony and her Jewish belief; she also believes that her arrest was facilitated by Russell Carlton's family and their extended close ties with the Harford County Sheriff's Office and senior staff members employed in the Harford County Circuit Court, including senior judges.
“The amount of felony charges issued against me caused my bail to exceed $10 million dollars, well beyond constitutionally acceptable standards, and was then increased to no bail.” she said.
‘To pour salt on an open wound’ Valerie gave birth to a baby boy-Max- while incarcerated. He was immediately taken from her and placed in foster care, where he died shortly after, suffocating from being wedged face down between a wall and his caregiver’s mattress.
Valerie says that she was maltreated and physically and emotionally abused by the prison officials.
“The first incarceration lasted over 13 months of solitary, isolation in continual confinement, first in minimum security, but later to super maximum, and then medical maximum. I was also committed to a psychiatric state institution for five days. The county, prosecutors, and public defender tried to hide what they did with a ‘plea’ of insanity. My committee literally saved my life and sanity with a series of actions that enabled me to be released from the psychiatric facility, although sadly back to the prison and its torture chambers. Letters went to the Maryland Governor at that time with solid exhibits that I had been tortured, requesting that he stop my return back to the HCDC.”
She said that she was never convicted, nor were any of the combined 33 charges against her ever tried.
The state eventually dropped all of the charges against her, due to insufficient evidence, but only after Ms. Carlton was imprisoned for thirteen months in solitary and confined isolation for crimes she said she did not commit.
Just weeks before Valerie Carlton was released from prison, new charges of assaulting a prison guard were brought up against her. Videotapes, from within the prison show an assault taking place, but it looks like Valerie Carlton was the one being assaulted by a male prison guard.
The following link shows the alleged attack. http://youtu.be/oQN1jWn5P0Q
Upon her release from Harford, Valerie said that she was told by the prison officials that they will re-arrest her. Fearing for her life, she fled to New York State. There, she was arrested again, almost one year later by Federal Marshalls on a warrant calling for her to face charges related to the assault on the prison corrections officer.
She was incarcerated again, this time in the Rockland County jail, with her case brought to New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Valerie said that she has not seen or talked to her daughter in a very long time, because her ex-husband has relocated with Winnifer to Brazil, making any communications impossible.
“I have not been able to get any correspondence in any way, shape, or form to my daughter for 4 years now.” Valerie Carlton said.
When asked about whether or not, her daughter was aware of what was going on, Valerie replied: “This is a very difficult question because of so many deep conspiracies evolving at that time, no one was entirely aware of what was going on. However, she had tried to warn me in her 6-year- old, victimized, and traumatized way. I did listen, but I never imagined that it could actually be as Holocaustic as what did engulf us. In addition, she had been trained with severe enforcement on how to behave, how not to react. I have the actual state discovery interrogation video of my daughter. There is a report on the interview on my website."
I asked Valerie Carlton what she hopes to accomplish by going public with her story?
“I have thought long and hard about all of the innocent, good mother's who are loosing there children to predator fathers, and all of the loving, more-low-socio families who don't stand a chance against this corporate, controlled structure within our politically oppressive system who are being absolutely devoured, while our mass syndicate media hides the facts in distracting us with international or political matters. Simply, people deserve to know the truth, not only about my case of misfortune, but of what experiential wisdom I have gained now ripe to share. I have survived the impossible and I believe that I learned and developed unique survival skills, which I would like to share with others now. If by extending myself so openly merits me additional blessings to reunite with my precious little girl then justice will be served. In regards to the system, well I can assure you that I have begun writing the book.” she said.
The following Link is Valerie Carlton’s story in her own words: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9ekOc1BjVo&feature=youtu.be
You can also see her full story complete with evidence containing Affidavit material and video recordings, on her website at http://www.valeriecarlton.com
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