I’m Finally Free!

I’m Finally Free

Well, it finally happened. I’m off house arrest and completely out of BOP control. I’m just on what they call “papers” now—probation.

It’s been a strange adjustment. After 11 months in prison, followed by months—and really years—of house arrest, my life has been controlled for a long time. For the first three years, I couldn’t even use the internet. For six years, almost every decision required permission. Where I went, what I did, how I lived—it was all monitored.

So when April 15th came, it felt surreal. Actually, it happened two days earlier than expected, which was a nice surprise. I drove up to the halfway house expecting paperwork, some kind of process. Instead, a woman at the front desk smiled and said, “Are you ready?” She took off my ankle monitor, said “goodbye,” and that was it. No paperwork. No ceremony. I was just… free.

That First Day

That moment was harder to process than I expected. I knew I could do anything I wanted, but it didn’t feel that way. I still felt like I needed permission.

The first thing I did was simple—I got my car washed. It had been filthy for months. But the most important thing I did was go pick up my dog and take him for a walk. I had been waiting six years to do that.

I took him to his favorite spot—the covered bridge path in Richfield. There’s a bridge you walk under, and when he was younger, he loved exploring down by the water. This time was different. He’s older now. He couldn’t walk as far, and he definitely couldn’t make it down the ridge like he used to. We only made it about half a mile before his legs started to give out.

But his tail never stopped wagging. He was happy. And honestly, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my first day of freedom.

One Week Later

It’s been about a week since then. I wanted to give it some time before writing this, just to see how everything settled in.

Even now, it still feels strange. Just being able to leave the house whenever I want—it’s something most people never think about, but it takes time to rewire your brain after years of restrictions.

When I go out in public, I catch myself thinking people are looking at me differently. Like they know. Like they’re judging me. Logically, I know that’s not happening—but when you’ve spent years being treated like that, it sticks with you.

Even getting in my car feels different. There’s this automatic thought: Did I tell my PO where I’m going? What time do I need to be back? And then I have to remind myself—I’m free. Or at least, mostly free.

Still Not Fully Free

Because being “on papers” still comes with limits.

I can’t leave Northern Ohio without permission. I’m required to have a job—30 hours a week—which is honestly one of the more frustrating parts since I don’t necessarily need one, but it’s part of the deal.

Then there’s the computer monitoring. I have three years of it as part of my supervised release. It’s not a huge issue in itself—I had it before prison. It’s just software that monitors activity to make sure nothing illegal is happening.

What does bother me is the cost. It’s $40 per device, per month. Not a dealbreaker, but frustrating because I was originally told the government would cover it. Now I’m being told they can’t, and they may have to go back to the judge to change that.

And then there’s the part that really got me—they told me I can’t use Apple devices because their monitoring software “doesn’t support it.”

That one hit harder than I expected. Before prison, I had the same monitoring software on Apple devices without any issues. I even confirmed it’s the same company. But I was told their office doesn’t allow it, so I had to comply.

That meant selling my iPhone, my Mac, and basically leaving behind the entire ecosystem I built my life around—Apple Fitness, Apple Photos, Apple Music… all of it. Gone. Back to Android.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s a small problem. I know that. I should just be grateful—and I am. But it’s one of those little reminders that I’m not fully free yet.

Looking Forward

The good news is, from everything I’ve been told, if I stay on track and don’t violate any rules, I could get off supervised release in a year instead of three.

So that’s the plan. Stay focused, follow the rules, and earn back the trust I lost.

At the end of the day, though—it feels incredible.

For the first time in years, I have real freedom again. Not perfect freedom, but enough to start living, building, and moving forward.

To everyone who followed me through this journey—thank you. Seriously. Your support meant more than you probably realize.

I’m free. And this is just the beginning.