The Story of the Modern Day Prodigal Son

It was the day of my Sentence December 15^th 2005, After been on bail for two years and finally getting my life back on track it was time to face the consequences of my backsliding ways, The law requires that I be sentenced for my crime as a drug dealer, Society demands justice, and in order for justice to be served i had to stand before a judge, it was time to come face to face with the seriousness of my crime against society

The week of my Sentence i had the Today Tonight television crew following my story , the only reason my case was of interest too them was because my crime was not the usual drug dealers story, mine was an unusual case as it involved family, it involved my mum who was also involved with selling marijuana, Over a year ago A Current Affair interviewed the suspects mum over the downfall of what was called the “Most Sophisticated Drug Operation in Queensland” by the Courier Mail, A Current Affair  also interviewed me over the Crime and aired it on national Television,  with the title “Drug Dealing Mum dobbs in her son” .

As i was expecting to go to prison i decided to try an use the media to send a message to the public and especially to the young naive youth of Australia who were using and selling drugs as well as breaking the law in any shape or form.

On the morning of my sentence i spoke into the camera of the Today Tonight crew and been the nervous wreck i was managed to get my message out there to the nation, with the Today Tonight also using video clips of the Bali Nine and Scahellpe Corby as well as Van Nguyen who was two weeks before hung for drug trafficking in another country.

My future Wife watched painstakingly as i walked into the courtroom, trying ever so hard to hold back her tears, i turned around and said “I love you” Little did i know how much she would hang onto these words to get her through the next few weeks. I refused to allow her to enter the courtroom as i knew how hard it would have been for her to see me been handcuffed and taken away by the Court Officials

"Mr Fitzsimmons, How do you plead to these charges against you?" Asked the Judge sternly.  I answered Guilty your Honor.

After a five minute lecture from the judge why he was about to sentence me, i was given one last opportunity to ask the Judge for Mercy, Your Honor i said, “please take into consideration how i have turned my life around since the day of my arrest , how i managed to walk away from the life of crime and managed to get myself a job and be promoted, how i managed to find a church that would encourage me and how i surrounded myself with positive people, also the fact that i  Have already been judged by those already who have seen my story on Television, before i was convicted”,I also had taken it upon myself to receive counselling.

I hereby Sentence you to Seven Years Prison, with eligibility for parole after serving two and a half years.  Seven long years i sighed, that is such a long time, i will be 39 before i am a free man completely again.  This confirmed the dream i had earlier on in the week of the period of my sentence.  Still God in his mercy came through for me, not that i could see it at this time, but i could have been sentenced for Fourteen years for my crime, anything over eight years and i would have had to serve 80% of my sentence.