I am writing on behalf of William "Scot" Johnson, who is currently being held at the Garland County Detention Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Scot is the father of our 18-year-old son, Tyler, and this situation is deeply personal to me. I have worked for several years with a local group focused on accountability and transparency in the justice system, but right now this is about one person who needs help getting home and getting a real chance to defend himself.

Scot has a $5,080 bond, but he is on Social Security and has almost no way to cover that cost or the much higher cost of legal defense. What makes this even harder is that no court date has been set, and he has not been able to meet with the public defender despite sending a signed, notarized request. As things stand, he has no effective defense and very little information about what is happening with his case. He also has the right to participate in his own defense, and right now he has been left in the dark instead of being given a fair chance to understand and respond to what is happening.

There are also serious concerns about parts of this case that deserve proper legal review. Questions have been raised about the evidence left in the vehicle, a firearm that could not be assembled, the fact that the arresting officer was placed on administrative leave for illegal stops and procedural violations, and the co-defendant being released under questionable circumstances that even the public defender could not explain. These concerns are exactly why competent representation matters so much.

• Funds will help cover:Scot's $5,080 bond
• Competent legal defense
• Necessary court-related costs

I will keep detailed accounting records and post updates as Scot's case progresses. If you are able to give, even a small amount, it will help move him closer to home and closer to having the representation he needs. If you cannot donate, sharing this fundraiser would also mean a great deal. Thank you for your assistance