Larry Long:  

(Update 2015) Retired Magistrate Judge Marine Corps Base Camp Lejuene In a remarkable turn of events, those who knew me as a teenager would never have guessed the path I would eventually take. I found myself frequently in trouble, spending time in jail and attending drug rehabilitation at Fort Bayard Medical Center in New Mexico, as well as Cedar Creek Hospital in Amarillo, TX. My journey through the Youth Diagnostic and Development Center in Albuquerque, NM began when I was just 13, and I returned again at 17. Yet, a decade later, at age 27, I had a surreal moment when I shook hands with, at the time, New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson during a Military Awards banquet at the Hyatt hotel in Albuquerque, recognized as the Top Recruiter for all armed forces in New Mexico—a full ten years after my time at Y.D.D.C. Not long after, I took the opportunity to speak to young offenders at Y.D.D.C., sharing my story and encouraging them to seek a better path in life. At the age of 13, I was placed in a court-ordered facility called Bruce’s Home, which catered to boys in Clovis, NM. My initial stay was supposed to last until I turned 18, but after three years, the facility was shut down due to serious allegations of child abuse. When I turned 16, I moved to Jimenez House, another juvenile group home located in Espanola, NM. Unfortunately, my stay there was short-lived as I was arrested for gang-related activities, leading to my return to Clovis for an extended sentence and additional time in jail. For those who might recall, I attended Espanola Valley High School from ages 16 to 17, but my experience there came to an abrupt end when I was taken away in handcuffs during lunch. Ultimately, my life took a significant turn for the better. I enjoyed a successful military career, dedicating over twenty years to the Marine Corps with multiple combat deployments in two separate wars. I considered it an honor to serve as the Magistrate Judge...Expand for more