Charles Manson Behind Bars (26 page)

Inmate:
one of a new generation of prisoners locked up in the county jail or prison. Generally he has to be told what to do in these environments by the convicts who know how to do their time. It is often used at a catch-all phrase for anyone incarcerated.

J-Cat:
someone who is taking medication for a psychological disorder, such as a person who is on a mood-altering drug for mental illness, or someone who merely acts crazy.

Kite:
a message, note, or letter passed from one inmate to another when direct communication isn’t possible. A “kite” is passed with a fish line or hand to hand through any number of inmates.

OG:
original gangster, a veteran who has been around the system a long time, at least twenty years, someone who can handle himself and those around him well. He knows how to think correctly when split second timing is required. Double OG is forty years in the system; triple OG is sixty years.

One time:
a cop or guard walking or patrolling an area. Usually, he doesn’t walk a beat and appears, unexpectedly, only once, and hence the name. It’s also used as a warning to the inmates in the immediate area to be aware.

PC:
protective custody, a status that an inmate is given by the prison when he needs extra protection from other inmates. It entails additional locks on the cell door, and a strict schedule to minimize contact with other prisoners. To Charlie, it was a badge of dishonor implying that he wasn’t able to protect himself.

Pruno:
prison-made wine made from fruit mash and sugar that has been fermented over a period of time, usually with artificial heat. It’s contraband, but readily available behind bars. It’s also called, “pulky.”

Road Dog:
someone you spend time with and protect. He is similar to an Ace Duce, but only in prison or jail.

Shot:
a drink of coffee, Kool-Aid, or Pruno.

Shutdown:
the word signifying that it is time to relax from a long day, time to go to sleep, stay off the tier, and show respect to your follow prisoners. Around ten o’clock in the evening, the first inmate desiring to sleep will yell, “shutdown,” to quite down the tier.

Soul:
the core of a human being, the spiritual part of man wanted by both God and the Devil. It’s to be cherished and guarded. Charles Manson used “soul” as a term of endearment when addressing close confidants.

I am thankful to “Boxcar,” aka Willie Mendez, for allowing me to tell his story, a personal intimate tale of mistakes and failure, but also of redemption and hope.

I am thankful for the undying love and personal sacrifice of my wife, Linda, and my son, Forrest. Without them, this work would never have been undertaken, let alone completed.

In gratitude, I acknowledge the important part that my publisher has played in the production of this book and the copy you are holding.

Above all, to God be the glory for His love, grace, and incomparable forgiveness.

Mark Hewitt is a true crime author and the editor of “Radians and Inches,” the scholarly, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the search for the Zodiac serial killer. Corresponding with Charles Manson for the past ten years on a variety of personal and professional topics, Mark has become a Manson expert. Holding two Masters Degrees, he is an award-winning public speaker and world traveler. He now resides in Northern California where he researches and writes, while completing his PhD.

Willie Mendez became institutionalized as a young man after repeated violations of the law, including attempted murder and armed robbery. He is serving a 68-year prison sentence in the California penal system. His frequent outbursts landed him next to Charles Manson, the iconic 1960s serial killer. Mendez was introduced to Mark Hewitt by Manson who thought the two had similar ideas and a shared optimism for life. From his initial feelings of contempt toward the aging killer, Willie, nicknamed, “Boxcar,” traveled to a place of openness and acceptance of the old man’s ideas, until finally freeing himself from the control and manipulation in which he had become entangled.

Mendez is pursuing his love of art, and hopes to write a book on the many high-profile inmates and famous prison guards he has met.