A man named Evenor Pineda has two children, a son also named Evenor, and a daughter named Natalia. His children recently shared their story about their father being able to take care of them and fulfill his responsibilities despite being behind bars.
The two children were interviewed by Concord Monitor and they tried to recall how their father would record CDs from prison that included audios of their father reading their favorite stories and telling them he loves them. The younger Evenor, now 15 years old, said that they would listen to the CDs the whole evening and it felt amazing.
Pineda, now 34 years old, has served 12 years behind bars for the fatal stabbing of his fellow gang member. He was convicted of the crime and was charged with second-degree murder and it is believed that he will serve six more years. The mother of the children, on the other hand, has been in and out of prison as well and is not living with them.
The Pineda siblings are with their paternal grandparents in Manchester, New Hampshire. The grandparents of Evenor and Natalia, Rosa and Normal Lavesque, said that they make sure the teens see their father regularly via Skype and in prison.
Pineda said in a statement that he tries to connect and contact his kids as much as possible because he is trying to be a positive role model for them. He added, "I'm fortunate that I have numbers and not life sentences. I know I can go home in six years - maybe sooner. My motivating factor for going home is my children."
Pineda continued to reveal he was different in the past, admitting he was selfish and simple-minded. He was also not involved in the lives of his children. However, jail time made him realized that he has to prioritize his family. Since he was convicted, Pineda completed parenting classes via the Family Connections Center and understood that he does not only need to provide the needs of his family but he also has to spend quality time with his kids.
Nola.com also reported that inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola are working to keep their children out of prison. The inmates were part of the group called Malachi Dads and it's a Christian-based program that helps inmates continue to fulfill their responsibilities as parents despite being in prison.
Studies claim 33 to 43 percent of children who have a parent behind bars will also be convicted in the future. However, such cycle could be prevented if parents behind bars take part of such programs, helping them to better parents who can give their children continued guidance and support.
