Who is Eric.

**************************************************************************************January 5, 2008

Honorable Brian Hill
Mr. Scott C. Ingraham
Senior Deputy Probation Officer

Dear Judge Hill and Mr. Ingraham:

Every day I work with young men and women in their early twenties to assist them in transitioning from active duty military service into civilian careers. It is a privilege for me to work with these young hero’s, to witness their character, understand their values and to talk with them about their future. Having two sons of my own and my work experience, my benchmark for what makes up a quality young people is very high.

I write this letter because Eric Frimpong is a young man of the highest integrity and character. He has well surpassed my benchmark and I would be proud to call him my own son. Over the two years that I have known him, that he fully understands the difference between right and wrong. His yes means yes and he has never misled, lied or attempted to deceive me or anyone in my family. He has been in our home in San Diego for weeks at a time and been exposed to dozens of beautiful young women without incident, concern or issue. All those that know Eric are shocked that this jury came back with the guilty verdict. Never has he said an unkind word to a woman, treated a woman with disrespect or used foul language. Having heard the testimony that Eric was accused of “cursing” angrily at the alleged rape victim was further evidence to me that you have the wrong man.

We have had the opportunity over two years to witness Eric’s strong Christian faith and attend worship with him on dozens of occasions. This included attending his church, Calvary Chapel in Santa Barbara, during the weeks of the trial. He has always demonstrated a clear understanding of the bible, the concepts within it, and practiced its lessons in his daily life. Eric is a young man that lives a life by and full of the fruits of the spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness and Self-control are his make-up. Even in jail, he is teaching and loving his fellow prisoners.

Eric was portrayed by the prosecution as a man that preyed on inebriated, young women. This is not who Eric is as a person. Eric may be guilty of naivety, not knowing a stranger as he befriended anyone that he meets. But, he is certainly not guilty of sexual assault or raping a woman. Eric would never mistreat or be disrespectful to a woman.

Judge Hill should exercise his power to overturn the jury’s verdict as not supported by the evidence. Those of us that sat through the proceeding every day could not comprehend how this jury made their decision based on the evidence presented. However, we do know that the decision by Eric’s attorney, Mr. Sanger, to rest based on the fact that the State did not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt was flawed.

Please reconsider the evidence in this case, examine the proceedings in their entirety and the cumulative effect of all of the misinformation, perjury and prejudicial errors made by the prosecution and law enforcement. Please help us set an innocent man free. Eric Frimpong is innocent.

Sincerely,

Paul R, Monahan, III
President and COO
Troop Transition International
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Dear Scott Ingham and Judge Brian Hill,

After knowing young Eric Frimpong for two years and watching with awe and admiration how he is handling this event that has been laid at his feet with dignity and grace usually afforded generations old than he, I want to tell you what I know about this extraordinary young man.

Eric Frimpong and I met when he arrived at my son’s dorm room the first week of training for the new team members of the UCSB men’s soccer team August 2005. His Dad and I were helping Patrick unpack. A young African boy, with only a backpack of belongings to his name, soft spoken but with a smile as broad as a crescent moon, needed a bed to sleep. He barely spoke English and patiently repeated his words until we understood what he was trying to say. Our son let him stay and from there went on to two years as roommates and to develop a friendship that will last their entire lives.

The first school break the boys had, Pat brought Eric with him to our home for Thanksgiving. Eric slept in his clothes on top of the bed because he was used to sleeping on the floor in his mothers hut. Bed covers were foreign to him, as were shoes or American clothes. He always slept with the light on in his room because he was afraid of the dark. He always keeps his Bible next to his bed because in his tribe, everyone goes to church for two to three hours every day. Their whole way of life is centered round the Christian church. In the two years that I have known him, I have never heard him use a curse word, on or off the soccer field. On that first visit to our home, I sat for many hours listening to his stories about his homeland and way of life. His family has no electricity or indoor plumbing. They go to their river to do the family laundry on Saturdays. He watched in fascination, as I used the washing machine and dryer and then volunteered to do all of my family ‘s laundry while he stayed at our home. He said that he helped his mother on Saturdays and should help me too since I was his American mother.

After the first visit, we asked Pat to bring Eric home with him for all of the following holidays and breaks from school. Eric has vacationed with us, and been with our extended family during Christmas each year. He accompanied us on mission trips to deliver clothes and food on Christmas to the poor in villages in Baja Mexico. He played soccer with the village kids in his bare feet because he said that is how he played in his own village.

We have a busy house during the holidays, full of friends and family, lots of kids who have grown up with our two boys. I have never seen him ever act inappropriately with any of the many female friends that visit our home. He is and always has been the quietly funny, considerate gentleman with all who know him.

I have spent hours talking with Eric around our kitchen table getting to know who this extraordinary person is, feeling blessed that he has come into our lives, watching his love of faith grow irrepressibly stronger and never giving up on his dream to become a professional soccer player.

Eric has asked me to call him “Nana Kwame” – nana meaning dearest that only a mother may use and Kwame is his Ghana name, meaning Friday which is the day he was born.

So Mr. Ingrahm and Judge Hill, I am his “American Mother” who you saw every day in the courtroom watching you preside over his trial. I know he is innocent of the crime but whatever you decide for his future, please know that Eric will remain a child of God, will minister to those in need and will remain true to his faith. Eric has a great future, for himself and his country.

With gratitude for his future,

Loni Monahan