This letter is to let people know that there is another side to the story of the paramedic, Trace Adams, who was recently convicted of Internet trespassing.

I have known Trace for many years, and I won’t justify what he did, which was simply reading his ex-girlfriend’s emails, but I will say that the punishment doesn’t seem to fit the crime. They say this is a felony. The penalty could be 3 1/2 to five years in prison.

A felony conviction for reading his ex-girlfriend’s emails? He has lost his job as a paramedic, which he was very good at, and will never be able to work in the medical field again, because of the felony conviction. Trace is also a military veteran, and if offered the choice between going to prison or serving a year or more in Iraq as a paramedic with our U.S. forces (an option I suggested to the judge presiding over the case), he would have taken the option to serve instead of being a burden on our taxpayers while his skills waste away in prison. He was not given that option.

It is noteworthy that the people he worked with in Coupeville are all very distraught by his conviction and firing. They have supported him by giving him money for his four children’s Christmas, paid some debts that he had, and also bought the children presents. They have opened up their homes to him, allowing him to stay there so he wouldn’t have to be alone during a difficult time.

Many have been at the trial and will attend the sentencing on Jan. 4, hoping that he will receive the minimum amount of time possible. He is very well liked and respected by his co-workers. He is a great father, he spends most of his time off working with his children and has helped in their classrooms on many occasions. I think if people knew the whole story that they would agree that he should not be sent to prison.

He has been portrayed in the press as some mean, threatening person. This is simply untrue, and the truth can be obtained from talking to any of his friends. They know the real circumstances behind what happened and are willing to stand up for truth and right. In this case the real victim was actually the accused.

Thank you for publishing the “other side of the story.”

Guy Neddo

Colorado Springs, Colo.