Jorge sent us the following statement:

“I’m currently serving a life without parole sentence for felony murder for my role as an accomplice in a robbery that tragically resulted in Mr. Matthew DiMaggio’s death. At the time of my participation in this crime, I was 18 years old. I’m now 48 years old and have served approximately 30 years in prison due to my involvement in this senseless crime. Prior to my arrest, conviction, and incarceration for this offense, I was raised by two loving parents in West Chester with one sibling. I grew up having a normal childhood, going to school, participating in sports and after-school programs. When I became old enough to work, I worked a full-time job while going to school.

This suddenly changed when I was about 16 years old, when I made the horrible decision to involve myself with drugs. It was at this time I began losing interest in school, sports, and other activities. My decision to use drugs placed my life in a downward trajectory. As I started hanging out more in the streets, I slowly abandoned the values I was taught. My new lifestyle affected my judgment and led to a series of bad decisions that ultimately led to my participation in this crime.

What was supposed to be a plot to steal some marijuana, suddenly turned deadly, when my codefendant , unbeknownst to me, brought a gun and fired through a locked door. In his attempt to get the door open, one of the bullets fired through the door unintentionally struck Mr. DiMaggio who was standing behind the door holding it shut. Mr. DiMaggio later died as a result of his injuries. Following my arrest and trial for this crime, I was found guilty of second-degree murder. I was sentenced to life, while the mastermind of this crime was sentenced to a 2½ to 5 years after pleading guilty and testifying on behalf of the Commonwealth.

Coming to prison as a young man for the first time was quite challenging.

Never having been arrested as a juvenile or ever spending any time in custody as an adult, I didn’t know what to expect. At this time in my life, I had a hard time accepting and understanding what I had done to get where I found myself and how I was being punished for my crimes. I blamed everyone but myself. The more I reflected where my life had taken me and the people that were hurt as a result of my actions, I realized that it wasn’t people, places and things that brought me to prison but my lack of judgment and poor decision-making which led to my participation in this crime.

It was at this moment that I took responsibility for my actions. This was a pivotal moment in my life that caused me to reflect on the life I was living and the people I hurt. This motivated me to seek the necessary help needed to make drastic changes in my life to address the behaviors that brought me to prison. I no longer wanted to be the person I was, even while serving the rest of my life in prison. I knew I had an obligation to those I harmed and to the community impacted by my crime.

It was at this moment that my journey to change began by taking advantage of every opportunity afforded to me to become a better person and serve my new community. These treatment, educational, and vocational programs have allowed me to become a father, brother, mentor and friend to many of the men I have encountered throughout my incarceration. I realized that it is never too late to make a difference in the lives of others, no matter where you find yourself. This realization drove me to assist others in the capacity of a legal reference aide in the prison law library, volunteering as a translator in the Hispanic Protestant Worship Services, as a Chairman of the Lifer’s Organization and other institutional organizations where I have attempted to serve the community that I have taken so much from.

These treatment, educational, and vocational programs have also prepared me to be a contributing member of society, should I ever be granted a second chance. Please see the attached list of accomplishments for your review. I believe society can benefit through my release, as I can continue my community outreach endeavors and work with members of my own community. Over the years I have engaged in many diversionary programs with various inmate organizations that sought to mentor and provide scholarships with at-risk youth and alternatives to violence, where we have promoted education over incarceration. If given the opportunity, I would like to work as a legal assistant, where I can use the skills I have acquired through my vocational and educational training to assist others. I’m particularly interested in working with community organizations involved with community service work, reentry services, wrongful conviction, and social justice advocacy. I would like to assist marginalized communities and work with those who are most at risk within those communities.

My accomplishments and achievements do not in any way diminish or erase what I have done, nor my role as an accomplice. I will forever carry the guilt of knowing that I am responsible for taking part in a crime that took Mr. DiMaggio’s life and for the unfathomable pain I have caused to his family and loved ones as a result of my actions. I’m deeply sorry for what I have done.”

View Jorge’s list of accomplishments