It’s about one year since Jacob Ostreicher was rescued from his Bolivian nightmare, where he was incarcerated nearly three years without being charged. Now he’s returning favor to one of his saviors.
Actor Mark Wahlberg – who was instrumental in getting Sean Penn involved in his case – is seeking a pardon in an effort to clear a 1988 felony assault conviction from his record. He applied to the Massachusetts Board of Pardons to have his name cleared.
The board is in the process of determining whether to hold a public hearing before recommending moving forward in the process.
Ostreicher penned a letter to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick pleading for Mr. Wahlberg pardon.
The following are some excerpts of the letter published in the NY Observer: “I respectfully write to you today in support of Mr. Mark Wahlberg’s petition for pardon for a crime to which he pleaded guilty in 1988. My relationship with Mark is unique, in that he can literally be credited with saving my life”, he writes.
“A young rabbi, Zvi Boyarsky of the Aleph Institute, began reaching out to anyone with influence who might be able to assist, and mentioned my plight to Mark Wahlberg. Mark felt instantly compelled to act on behalf of a complete stranger, his sole motivation being the desire to help an innocent American rotting in a Bolivian prison. Mark decided to make every effort to pursue my release. One of those efforts was a call to his friend, Sean Penn” Ostreicher continues.
“For me to survive to see my family again, to return to US soil, I would have to escape. With the aid of experienced professionals, a plan for my escape was constructed and painstakingly executed, the understanding being that failure would almost certainly result in my death. I wish I could elaborate in greater detail, but the sensitive nature of the information prohibits me from doing so.”
“I am alive today in large part because of Mark Wahlberg. That is not hyperbole. Had Mark Wahlberg not dedicated himself to pursuing my release, I would still be in that hell today, without a semblance of hope or a reason to live. I thank G-d for Mark’s efforts,” Ostreicher reiterates.
Ostreicher concludes the letter by asking the governor, “I was given a second chance at life because of Mark Wahlberg. I respectfully ask that you consider granting Mark with an official pardon, a symbolic second chance. Mark Wahlberg will continue to be a man of integrity with or without a pardon. In my opinion, his countless positive acts over the past 25 years have eclipsed the mistakes of his youth. Especially in light of the fact that the victim, Johnny Trinh, publicly declared his unconditional forgiveness, I believe that a pardon is appropriate. A pardon will serve to officially recognize 25 years of positive growth, and given the spotlight under which Mark is forced to live his life, will underscore how change is possible, and provide a source of inspiration for others who strive to better themselves.”
Read the Letter in its entirety at NY Observer
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