Subversity, a KUCI public affairs program, this Friday evening features an interview with Jerome Valenta, a journalist who spent 35 months in prison but was freed after an appelate court ruled that the Kern County District Attorney's office had committed numerous violations in pursuing a case against Valenta for recording a conversation with a law enforcement officer. The conviction was thown out. The show airs from 5-6 p.m. on Friday, February 25, 2000 on KUCI, 88.9 fm in Orange County, and is Web-cast simultaneously at kuci.org/listen.html.
Valenta, 55, who continued a crusade to expose official wrongs, organized a Christian mission to help people in prison, Extend-A-Hand for Justice. A "jailhouse lawyer", he wrote his own appeals that led to his release earlier this month. He was publisher and writer at the Bakersfield Reporter before his jailing.
For more on his case, read Mark Arax's article in the Los Angeles Times February 22, 2000: "Imprisoned Gadfly Wins Freedom: Court: Appeals panel says critic of Kern County law enforcement agencies was victim of prosecutorial misconduct. He was serving sentence for eavesdropping."
Arax has been an important writer at the Times exposing prison conditions and official misconduct.
Valenta's case is the latest among many across the state who have recently been released from prison because of official misconduct.
We will also bring you an update on the Pacifica freelancers' strike.
Listeners can call (949) 824-5824 to chat with Valenta during the show.
Daniel C. Tsang Host, Subversity, now Fridays, 5-6 p.m. KUCI, 88.9 FM selected shows available as RealAudio files URL: kuci.org/~dtsang/subversity E-mail: subversity@kuci.org Subversity, KUCI, PO Box 4362, Irvine CA 92616