Scott D. Barmore
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An Interview with Scott D. Barmore
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SM: Who are you, Scott Barmore?
Scott Barmore: I am first and foremost a child of God. I'm also the grateful son of my incredibly patient, kind and beautiful mother, Karol McCaskill-Emmons and my father, Dwight Barmore Sr. I am also the proud brother of Dominique, DJ and Angie. And, I'm the uncle of three nephews Amauri, Kayden and Dominique Jr. I also happen to be a prison inmate at the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City, Missouri.
SM: How long have you been in prison?
Scott Barmore: For over 20 years. I am 44 years old, so I've been in prison for half of my life.
SM: Tell us about your history. Where did you grow up?
Scott Barmore: I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. I grew up in a Christian home. I went to Catholic middle school and then moved to Marion, Indiana -- where I finished high school. After high school, I moved to Missouri and started down a path that led me to prison.
SM: When you say that you started down a path that led you to prison, will you elaborate?
Scott Barmore: Yes. Here in the state of Missouri, I fell into a crowd that was headed for destruction. Being 18 years old, I had no thought of how my actions would impact my future. My "friends" and I were using drugs and making bad choices that eventually led to me committing robbery.
SM: It is interesting that you fully admit to committing robbery. In fact, when you were arrested at the age of 18, you pleaded guilty? Why did you plead guilty?
Scott Bamore: I pleaded guilty because I was guilty. Once I was arrested, it was a wake-up moment. I wanted to take full responsibility for my crimes. I was raised to tell the truth, and to own up to my mistakes. Pleading guilty to the crimes that I committed was my way of facing my actions and trying to atone for my sins.
SM: Upon pleading guilty, you were initially given probation. Is that correct?
Scott Barmore: Yes, that is correct. After I pleaded guilty, I was given 5 years probation. I then got a job working at AT&T. I was also studying to be a real estate salesperson.
SM: If you were given probation, why was your probation revoked less than 2 years later?
Scott Barmore: At the time of my probation, I was accused of committing three additional robberies, which I did not commit. I found out about the accusations after a police officer went to my house, stating that I was wanted in connection with 3 robberies. I was stunned and I was innocent. So, I did like any innocent person would do. I did not run and hide. When I got home, and found out that the police were looking for me, I immediately turned myself in. Being an innocent man, I did not take a lawyer with me. I had nothing to hide. I went in and answered all of the police officers questions. I told them of my whereabouts. But, I was still arrested. I was later convicted of those charges. However, I am innocent of those charges.
SM: You appealed your case all the way to the Missouri Supreme Court, is that correct?
Scott Barmore: Yes, I did. I am innocent of the 3 additional robberies for which I was accused. I did commit the first robberies for which I was sentenced to 5 years probation. But, I did NOT commit the 3 other robberies that occurred while I was on probation. I was sentenced to 60 years to life, for those 3 additional robberies. I was convicted on a voice line-up and not an eye-witness account. Knowing my innocence, I appealed my case to the Missouri Supreme Court and asked for an evidentiary hearing. My appeal was denied, and here I sit.
SM: Although you maintain your innocence, you do not seem to be embittered by what you deem to be a wrongful conviction. From the outside looking in, it is hard to understand how you have not become bitter or jaded. How has your heart not become hardened, after spending more than 20 years in prison?
Scott Barmore: Like all things in life, I believe that happiness is a choice. Hope is a choice. Forgiveness is a choice. I made the decision to examine my life and to take responsibility for the initial choices that led me to commit the crimes for which I am guilty. I did commit the first set of crimes for which I was accused. That is why I plead guilty. Although I did not commit the 3 additional robberies, upon losing my appeal in the Missouri Supreme Court, I still had to make the decision to move forward with faith and hope. I also had to keep a vision in my heart and mind that one day I would be free. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." 2 Corinthians 5:7 says: "For we walk by faith, not by sight." I have had to trust God for my freedom and to walk by faith. That sustains me.
SM: May I ask you to describe your days for us?
Scott Barmore: Of course! I start each day with prayerful meditation. Meditation sets my day in a positive direction. After meditation, I like to either read or listen to music -- before beginning the rest of my day. Reading has been such a positive force in my life. I truly believe that man cannot live by bread alone, so I try to read as much as I can. I like to read motivational books, biographies, books on world religions, philosophy, short stories, newspapers, art, poetry -- you name it. Music is also a great outlet for me. I have over 1,700 songs in my music catalog. My favorite music artist is India Arie. The Christian hip-hop artist, Lacrae, is also a favorite. But, I like soul music, jazz, some classic rock, modern rock, country music, and gospel. I also practice yoga. Although lately, I have been doing more cardio. I'm a certified Personal Fitness Trainer and Nutrition Specialist, so I try to make sure that I keep a healthy mind, body, and soul.
SM: What kind of work do you do behind bars? Do you have a job?
Scott Barmore: Yes, of course, I work. Although I am incarcerated, I still believe in serving and uplifting others. I currently work in the Prison Hospice. I enjoy spending time with terminally ill prisoners. Some people find hospice work depressing. I don't. My mother is a Registered Nurse who works at the Veterans Administration. And, my grandfather (my mother's father) was a medical doctor -- God rest his soul. Being the grandson of a doctor and the son of a Registered Nurse, I guess you could say that caring for others is in my blood. For me, it's an honor to give incurably ill prisoners end-of-life care. They need compassion, and they deserve to die with dignity. Being in prison has taught me more about humanity than I ever thought it would. We are not the sum total of our mistakes. Although we are in prison, we are human beings with feelings and needs. So many of these patients have no family members who visit them. If I can give them just a little bit of kindness and care, as they make their transition, I believe that I am doing God's work. I'm also the better for it. Being a hospice worker helps you to recognize how fragile life is.
Besides hospice work, I am also a Facilitator for the prison's Substance Abuse Program. Having had a brief history with drugs, I also wanted to work in the drug treatment program to help other inmates. I also appreciate the structure and accountability provided in the program. The “Serenity Prayer” is one of my favorite prayers. Those words have been a lifeline for me. Reinhold Niebuhr, the American theologian who wrote the prayer, was not a substance abuser, but his prayer was later adopted as the AA Prayer. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen." Those words have been a beacon of hope for me. They are words that I live by.
SM: Do you have any hobbies?
Scott Barmore: Oh yes! I like to watch Jeopardy. I also play chess. I like to watch movies. For many years, I worked as a barber for the prison staff and my fellow inmates. I like to cut hair, it's one of my passions. But, I also enjoy the camaraderie of being a barber. I think barbers are like therapists. Sure I cut hair, but I would also spend time in fellowship with the other inmates. We would talk and work through things that were happening in our day. I'd give advice, but I would also listen and learn from the guys whose hair I cut. Since I work in hospice, I no longer work as the barber, but I still cut hair -- when asked. I have learned that there are so many ways to serve -- on any given day.
SM: Many will likely want to know if you have committed any violent offenses during the time you've been in prison?
Scott Barmore: No, of course not. I'm not a violent man. Even when I committed robbery at 18 years old, it was a non-violent crime. Likewise, during this whole time that I have been incarcerated, I've never had any fights or engaged in any type of violence. There is absolutely no violence on my record.
SM: One of my goals in creating this website is to bring public awareness to your case and -- God willing -- help you gain your freedom. What do you plan to do when you are free? Have you thought about what you will do with your future, when you are free?
Scott Barmore: Yes indeed. I think about it all the time! I truly believe that there is a call on my life to use my journey to help others. Upon my release from prison, I plan to devote my life to speaking to at-risk youth. I was 18 years old, when I made the mistakes that led me to prison. I therefore feel a duty to warn young men and women about the pitfalls of crime. I want to paint a picture for them that will dissuade them from choosing the wrong path. I also look forward to speaking to high school students. I was fresh out of high school when I made the wrong choices, so I want to use my life as a cautionary tale. But, I also want to help with prison reform. Prison should be about rehabilitation. I want to help prisoners change their lives for the better. So, I also want to tour prisons as a public speaker and talk about my life and my road to redemption. Being in prison I have also learned, first hand, that Hispanic men are the second highest population of prison inmates -- second only to African Americans. I am therefore in the beginning stages of learning Spanish. My goal is to become fluent in Spanish so that I can give bilingual lectures during my prison tours. I truly look forward to a life of service and using my story to help others. If I can use my freedom to give back and help others, I believe that I will be doing God's work and living on purpose. I have made some mistakes, but I plan to make up for those mistakes by helping others! That, I believe, will make God proud and bring Him glory.
SM: Any other plans for your life Scott?
Scott Barmore: I hope to be a husband and father one day. My mother is such a great mom, if it's in God's plan, I know that she will be an even better grandmother to my children and a great mother-in-law to my future wife!
SM: My final question is why do you believe you should be granted your freedom?
Scott Barmore: I am profoundly sorry for the mistakes I made that led me to prison. As a young man I could not see the harm of my actions, their impact on others, or the time it would cost me. Knowing what I do today, I know that I could have been so much more had I applied myself. I could have made a valuable contribution to society. My hopes and dreams did not die when those prison doors closed. Being in prison did not stamp out my faith. It awakened my desire to fulfill my life's call. The fact that I'm alive right now means that God still has use for me. If given the chance, I can still serve Him with honor and help to make this world a better place. I can also provide a valuable service to mankind.
I can honestly say that I am no longer the young man who committed robbery at 18 years old. Where I once used my hands to steal, I want to use these same hands to serve and uplift others. When my story ends, and I stand before my God at the end of my life, I will have to account for all of my days here on Earth. On that graduation day in Heaven, I want God to say: "Scott, you served Me well. " In order to do that, to live up to my God-given potential, I need to be free. I know God has forgiven me. It took me some time, but I have finally forgiven myself. Now I'm asking the justice system to forgive me and to allow me to become a valuable member of society. I promise God that I won't let Him down. I won't let my family down. I won't let the justice system down if they take a chance on my freedom. And I won't let myself down. I cannot change my past. But I can change my future. I can and I will, if given the chance. I am asking for the opportunity to get it right this time. I pray to God for that chance. One thing is for certain: I will not squander it!
Scott Barmore: I am first and foremost a child of God. I'm also the grateful son of my incredibly patient, kind and beautiful mother, Karol McCaskill-Emmons and my father, Dwight Barmore Sr. I am also the proud brother of Dominique, DJ and Angie. And, I'm the uncle of three nephews Amauri, Kayden and Dominique Jr. I also happen to be a prison inmate at the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City, Missouri.
SM: How long have you been in prison?
Scott Barmore: For over 20 years. I am 44 years old, so I've been in prison for half of my life.
SM: Tell us about your history. Where did you grow up?
Scott Barmore: I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. I grew up in a Christian home. I went to Catholic middle school and then moved to Marion, Indiana -- where I finished high school. After high school, I moved to Missouri and started down a path that led me to prison.
SM: When you say that you started down a path that led you to prison, will you elaborate?
Scott Barmore: Yes. Here in the state of Missouri, I fell into a crowd that was headed for destruction. Being 18 years old, I had no thought of how my actions would impact my future. My "friends" and I were using drugs and making bad choices that eventually led to me committing robbery.
SM: It is interesting that you fully admit to committing robbery. In fact, when you were arrested at the age of 18, you pleaded guilty? Why did you plead guilty?
Scott Bamore: I pleaded guilty because I was guilty. Once I was arrested, it was a wake-up moment. I wanted to take full responsibility for my crimes. I was raised to tell the truth, and to own up to my mistakes. Pleading guilty to the crimes that I committed was my way of facing my actions and trying to atone for my sins.
SM: Upon pleading guilty, you were initially given probation. Is that correct?
Scott Barmore: Yes, that is correct. After I pleaded guilty, I was given 5 years probation. I then got a job working at AT&T. I was also studying to be a real estate salesperson.
SM: If you were given probation, why was your probation revoked less than 2 years later?
Scott Barmore: At the time of my probation, I was accused of committing three additional robberies, which I did not commit. I found out about the accusations after a police officer went to my house, stating that I was wanted in connection with 3 robberies. I was stunned and I was innocent. So, I did like any innocent person would do. I did not run and hide. When I got home, and found out that the police were looking for me, I immediately turned myself in. Being an innocent man, I did not take a lawyer with me. I had nothing to hide. I went in and answered all of the police officers questions. I told them of my whereabouts. But, I was still arrested. I was later convicted of those charges. However, I am innocent of those charges.
SM: You appealed your case all the way to the Missouri Supreme Court, is that correct?
Scott Barmore: Yes, I did. I am innocent of the 3 additional robberies for which I was accused. I did commit the first robberies for which I was sentenced to 5 years probation. But, I did NOT commit the 3 other robberies that occurred while I was on probation. I was sentenced to 60 years to life, for those 3 additional robberies. I was convicted on a voice line-up and not an eye-witness account. Knowing my innocence, I appealed my case to the Missouri Supreme Court and asked for an evidentiary hearing. My appeal was denied, and here I sit.
SM: Although you maintain your innocence, you do not seem to be embittered by what you deem to be a wrongful conviction. From the outside looking in, it is hard to understand how you have not become bitter or jaded. How has your heart not become hardened, after spending more than 20 years in prison?
Scott Barmore: Like all things in life, I believe that happiness is a choice. Hope is a choice. Forgiveness is a choice. I made the decision to examine my life and to take responsibility for the initial choices that led me to commit the crimes for which I am guilty. I did commit the first set of crimes for which I was accused. That is why I plead guilty. Although I did not commit the 3 additional robberies, upon losing my appeal in the Missouri Supreme Court, I still had to make the decision to move forward with faith and hope. I also had to keep a vision in my heart and mind that one day I would be free. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." 2 Corinthians 5:7 says: "For we walk by faith, not by sight." I have had to trust God for my freedom and to walk by faith. That sustains me.
SM: May I ask you to describe your days for us?
Scott Barmore: Of course! I start each day with prayerful meditation. Meditation sets my day in a positive direction. After meditation, I like to either read or listen to music -- before beginning the rest of my day. Reading has been such a positive force in my life. I truly believe that man cannot live by bread alone, so I try to read as much as I can. I like to read motivational books, biographies, books on world religions, philosophy, short stories, newspapers, art, poetry -- you name it. Music is also a great outlet for me. I have over 1,700 songs in my music catalog. My favorite music artist is India Arie. The Christian hip-hop artist, Lacrae, is also a favorite. But, I like soul music, jazz, some classic rock, modern rock, country music, and gospel. I also practice yoga. Although lately, I have been doing more cardio. I'm a certified Personal Fitness Trainer and Nutrition Specialist, so I try to make sure that I keep a healthy mind, body, and soul.
SM: What kind of work do you do behind bars? Do you have a job?
Scott Barmore: Yes, of course, I work. Although I am incarcerated, I still believe in serving and uplifting others. I currently work in the Prison Hospice. I enjoy spending time with terminally ill prisoners. Some people find hospice work depressing. I don't. My mother is a Registered Nurse who works at the Veterans Administration. And, my grandfather (my mother's father) was a medical doctor -- God rest his soul. Being the grandson of a doctor and the son of a Registered Nurse, I guess you could say that caring for others is in my blood. For me, it's an honor to give incurably ill prisoners end-of-life care. They need compassion, and they deserve to die with dignity. Being in prison has taught me more about humanity than I ever thought it would. We are not the sum total of our mistakes. Although we are in prison, we are human beings with feelings and needs. So many of these patients have no family members who visit them. If I can give them just a little bit of kindness and care, as they make their transition, I believe that I am doing God's work. I'm also the better for it. Being a hospice worker helps you to recognize how fragile life is.
Besides hospice work, I am also a Facilitator for the prison's Substance Abuse Program. Having had a brief history with drugs, I also wanted to work in the drug treatment program to help other inmates. I also appreciate the structure and accountability provided in the program. The “Serenity Prayer” is one of my favorite prayers. Those words have been a lifeline for me. Reinhold Niebuhr, the American theologian who wrote the prayer, was not a substance abuser, but his prayer was later adopted as the AA Prayer. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen." Those words have been a beacon of hope for me. They are words that I live by.
SM: Do you have any hobbies?
Scott Barmore: Oh yes! I like to watch Jeopardy. I also play chess. I like to watch movies. For many years, I worked as a barber for the prison staff and my fellow inmates. I like to cut hair, it's one of my passions. But, I also enjoy the camaraderie of being a barber. I think barbers are like therapists. Sure I cut hair, but I would also spend time in fellowship with the other inmates. We would talk and work through things that were happening in our day. I'd give advice, but I would also listen and learn from the guys whose hair I cut. Since I work in hospice, I no longer work as the barber, but I still cut hair -- when asked. I have learned that there are so many ways to serve -- on any given day.
SM: Many will likely want to know if you have committed any violent offenses during the time you've been in prison?
Scott Barmore: No, of course not. I'm not a violent man. Even when I committed robbery at 18 years old, it was a non-violent crime. Likewise, during this whole time that I have been incarcerated, I've never had any fights or engaged in any type of violence. There is absolutely no violence on my record.
SM: One of my goals in creating this website is to bring public awareness to your case and -- God willing -- help you gain your freedom. What do you plan to do when you are free? Have you thought about what you will do with your future, when you are free?
Scott Barmore: Yes indeed. I think about it all the time! I truly believe that there is a call on my life to use my journey to help others. Upon my release from prison, I plan to devote my life to speaking to at-risk youth. I was 18 years old, when I made the mistakes that led me to prison. I therefore feel a duty to warn young men and women about the pitfalls of crime. I want to paint a picture for them that will dissuade them from choosing the wrong path. I also look forward to speaking to high school students. I was fresh out of high school when I made the wrong choices, so I want to use my life as a cautionary tale. But, I also want to help with prison reform. Prison should be about rehabilitation. I want to help prisoners change their lives for the better. So, I also want to tour prisons as a public speaker and talk about my life and my road to redemption. Being in prison I have also learned, first hand, that Hispanic men are the second highest population of prison inmates -- second only to African Americans. I am therefore in the beginning stages of learning Spanish. My goal is to become fluent in Spanish so that I can give bilingual lectures during my prison tours. I truly look forward to a life of service and using my story to help others. If I can use my freedom to give back and help others, I believe that I will be doing God's work and living on purpose. I have made some mistakes, but I plan to make up for those mistakes by helping others! That, I believe, will make God proud and bring Him glory.
SM: Any other plans for your life Scott?
Scott Barmore: I hope to be a husband and father one day. My mother is such a great mom, if it's in God's plan, I know that she will be an even better grandmother to my children and a great mother-in-law to my future wife!
SM: My final question is why do you believe you should be granted your freedom?
Scott Barmore: I am profoundly sorry for the mistakes I made that led me to prison. As a young man I could not see the harm of my actions, their impact on others, or the time it would cost me. Knowing what I do today, I know that I could have been so much more had I applied myself. I could have made a valuable contribution to society. My hopes and dreams did not die when those prison doors closed. Being in prison did not stamp out my faith. It awakened my desire to fulfill my life's call. The fact that I'm alive right now means that God still has use for me. If given the chance, I can still serve Him with honor and help to make this world a better place. I can also provide a valuable service to mankind.
I can honestly say that I am no longer the young man who committed robbery at 18 years old. Where I once used my hands to steal, I want to use these same hands to serve and uplift others. When my story ends, and I stand before my God at the end of my life, I will have to account for all of my days here on Earth. On that graduation day in Heaven, I want God to say: "Scott, you served Me well. " In order to do that, to live up to my God-given potential, I need to be free. I know God has forgiven me. It took me some time, but I have finally forgiven myself. Now I'm asking the justice system to forgive me and to allow me to become a valuable member of society. I promise God that I won't let Him down. I won't let my family down. I won't let the justice system down if they take a chance on my freedom. And I won't let myself down. I cannot change my past. But I can change my future. I can and I will, if given the chance. I am asking for the opportunity to get it right this time. I pray to God for that chance. One thing is for certain: I will not squander it!