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without bail. She was told she had to report to St. Louis a couple of months later for arraignment. Still thinking she was going to prison for 20-30 years, she decided it was worth the risk to flee - to become a fugitive (one of the 300,000 currently being sought) in November of 1992.
Kirsten changed her name to Krista Rae Jones and vowed that she would change her being to reflect her name change. She found legal employment, a home for her son, and began working on her college degrees. Life was not easy by any means, but with struggle and hard work, she made a life for herself and her son.
She obtained an Associates degree from a community college in Washington State and decided to move out of the rain. Then she met the man of her dreams - they married and had a beautiful daughter in 1999. She continued her education working toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her interest was in film-making, and was also hired for an internship at the local TV station. She thought she could make the world a better place through documentary film making.
Kirsten had also obtained her Yoga Teacher's certification in 2000 and conducted yoga classes for students at the University. She worked part-time weekdays and had a thriving summer business on weekends. She was able to contribute to her family and to the community at large. During this time she explored Buddhism and through it and yoga has come to a level of peace in her soul.
At the beginning of her senior year at UC-Boulder, the U.S. Marshals arrested her and "brought her to justice." She is currently looking at a 7 year prison sentence in a federal institution due to the Mandatory Minimum sentencing laws. She will be joining over a million other prisoners incarcerated for various drug-related offenses. And, thanks to Mr. Reagan and Mr. Bush in the mid-1980s, the Statute of Limitations was changed to 86 years - a lifetime. In other words, if you have committed a drug-related offense, the government will hunt you down for the rest of your natural life. Is it no wonder why there are an estimated 300,000 fugitives "out there."
Her husband and children are devastated, her community and friends confused. All of the work she has done for herself in the past ten years, all the rehabilitation she provided for herself is overlooked. In the eyes of the authorities, she is a drug dealer and a fugitive.
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