The Sun Journal’s front-page story (May 4) of a prisoner swap between Maine and Arizona clearly illustrates that justice may be not only blind, but has also turned a blind eye to righteousness.

Brandon Thongsavanh, serving a 58-year sentence for having been convicted of killing Bates student Morgan McDuffee in a street fight a couple of years ago, is being transferred from a Maine prison to one in Arizona.

Steven Coy, who appears to have the credentials of a career criminal, as “punishment” for his involvement in a 15-day hostage taking in an Arizona prison several months ago, is being transferred to Maine where he has family ties. This was the result of plea bargaining to end the hostage takeover.

The Sun Journal article made no mention that Thongsavanh had requested to participate in the transfer process, nor that any input from him had been solicited, leaving one to conclude that he had absolutely no say in the matter.

Thongsavanh also has family ties in Maine, among whom are two young children. Maintaining a father-child relationship under circumstances involving incarceration would have been difficult enough. Doing so with the father more than halfway across the country, I’m certain, makes it practically impossible.

I do not know Brandon Thongsavanh personally, nor am I a crusader for the cause of his alleged innocence, but I do recognize injustice when I see it. Brandon Thongsavanh is not being treated fairly.

Paul St. Jean, Lewiston

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