1. Where are you living right now? I am living in Florence, AZ at the Central Arizona Correctional Facility. I've served 4 years of a 15 year sentence.
2. Are you married? If so, who did you marry? I am divorced. My ex still lives in Woodruff, AZ and teaches in Joseph City. Unfortunately, we have not contact whatsoever.
3. Do you have any kids? If so, names and ages. I have 2 girls; Alexandrya-age 6.5 and Vyktorianna-age 3.
4. Do you have a college degree? From where and in what? I got a B.S. in Elementary Education although I will not be using that degree when I am released. I got the degree from Northern Arizona University (NAU).
5. What do you do for a living? I don't do anything. Currently, I allow the taxpayers of Arizona to take care of my housing, food and clothing. I leech off society!
6. How many places have you lived since graduation? Name them. I have lived in 7 places. San Bernardino County, CA-mission, Provo, UT-college, Tempe, AZ-college, Mesa, AZ, Woodruff, AZ, St. Johns, AZ and Florence, AZ.
7. Briefly summarize any other major events that have happened in your life since graduation.
1990-1992-Mission for LDS church in California
1993-Married to Laurie Bowler
1998-Graduated from NAU and taught 2 years in Laveen,AZ.
2000-Taught in Snowflake
2001-Taught in Joseph City
2002-First daughter born
2003-Taught in St. Johns
2004-Started work with ADOT. Got paid 15% more than teaching for holding up a shovel.
2005-Got arrested and went to jail. Divorced.
2006-Sentenced to 15 years in prison, second daughter born.
2009-still in prison
8. What is your favorite memory of high school? Getting the award for the fastest sinking boat in the Annual Physics Boat race. My partner was Bob Seagle. Also anything with Academic Decathlon. And taking Shanie Wilhelm to Homecoming.
9. What are some of your favorite songs from high school? BIG HAIR BANDS! Especially "We're Not Gonna Take It and listening to Twisted Sister with Shane Lee. Also, Fishin in the Dark (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). SJHS Fight Song (I know I was a band geek).
10. Who is the teacher/class you remember most from high school? Risa Udall-English and Academic Decathlon. She always prepared us for anything. If she didn't know something, she would read and find out. She set the standard for the decades of AcaDec victories. She is also one of the few people in St. Johns who still write to me, which I am incredibly grateful for. She is my hero.
11. If you could go back, what would you change about your high school years? I would want to have the opportunity to relate to my family and counselors the awful secrets of my past that I had tried to hide for so long. Those secrets that led to a lifetime of addiction and a downward spiral. Perhaps if I had trusted someone, I would not be where I am today. Plus, I would have chosen what I wanted to do with my life, rather than what I thought was expected of me.
12. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? In 5 years, I will still be in prison. In 10 years, I will be starting a new life on the opposite side of chain link and razor wire. I don't know what my career will be, but I know I will be happy and free-in many ways.
13. What is one accomplishment since high school that you are proud of? Although being in prison is definitely not an accomplishment, being in here has led to my greatest. In the 3 years (almost 4) of incarceration, I have finally begun to overcome the bondage of 30 years of sexual addiction that has ruined my life. For the first time in my life, I am able to make it through a day without having to satisfy a desire for another "fix". Overcoming this addiction is definitely a greater than any other thing I have done in my entire life.
14. What is one piece of advice you would give a future graduate of SJHS? PLEASE avoid any substance and/or behaviors that are addictive in nature. The moments of escape or pleasure are not worth a lifetime of despair and failure. Remember that addiction is not just in the form of drugs and alcohol. It can take the form of sex, pornography, dependency and other deviant behaviors that just get worse. There is no reason to go to prison to find this out. Just stay away from it. If you are already addicted, get help from someone-a teacher, counselor, pastor, parent.
15. Anything else you want to say to your former classmates? Please don't condemn me for my actions. The state has already done so. I don't ask you to condone my actions either. I realize what I did and have accepted my time in here as a necessary punishment. I do, however, want to hear from you. I've lost contact with many of you over the years and would like to know how you are doing. Plus, I'm a little selfish--I like getting letters. I'm glad that Mindy included me in this reunion and I really hope that I'll hear form some of you. Perhaps, I'll be around and able to attend our 30th anniversary. Please write to me!
Bradley Platt #212887 CACF
5B 18/Box 843
PO BOX 9600 Florence, AZ 85132
