Writing on my phone; please forgive any formatting issues.

I had been with my ex for more than a decade. She wanted a divorce, and so I granted her request. There is a waiting period and so some time has passed. On the day of the divorce, she said she wanted to work things out, I declined.

She was not happy. She threatened me, stating I would regret not taking her back. She would ruin me.

Now, I had guardianship of the children, and was naive. She never wanted to take the children to her house, but would come over and cook for them, and hang out. I wanted them to be happy, so I allowed it. Huge mistake.

The next day, my boss, the head of security and the police arrive. They interrogate me about my "drug problem". And how I have illegal substances in my possession at worth.

I deny, as that was the truth. I don't do drugs. The head of security says, " then you won't mind if we search you."

"No, go right ahead, I have nothing to hide."

My horror when they pull out an unknown substance. I adamantly deny ownership, but it came from one of the many pockets of my laptop's bag.

I was fired. I was not written a ticket. I was not taken to jail. I had children to support, and my ex and I agreed at the divorce that she would not need to pay child support. Welcome to my new hell.

I hired and an attorney who found out I had something like a warrant out for my arrest, but it wasn't a warrant. My attorney and I went before a judge and a court date was set for four months later.

I told my attorney my story, and in not so many words, I was told I was screwed. The burden was on me to prove the substance was not mine.

I was jobless for five months. I interviewed well, but background checks showed an open charge against me. Fortunately I was hired by a church after telling them my story.

The court date came and went, the prosecutor asking to push it back. Maybe it was my attorney who asked, it's been a long time and in a little foggy on this part. I know I simply wanted to get this bad business resolved.

Four more months pass, my attorney and the prosecutor have a deal, plead guilty and I get probation. Else I was looking at jail time. I thought about it, but decided that I was innocent and would not plead guilty to something I did not do. My attorney was able to fasttrack my court date if I decided on the judge listening to my case in place of a jury. I wanted this over so, I agreed.

A week before the court I got a call from my ex's best friends, who confirmed what I had said all along. My ex planted it. One of the friends was the one who supplied her with the drugs, and a heavy heart was weighing on them both to come forward.

The day of my court date, the face on my ex when they arrived.

At my hearing, my previous boss testified to my good character. The officer who found drugs on my possession was there. The officer testified that he genuinely thought I was innocent based on my reaction. He said something along the lines of having 15 years experience, and being able to tell when someone was faking it.

Before my ex's friends could testify, the judge said they had to get attorneys in case something they said implicated them in a crime.

Their attorney told the court he recommends they not testify, as the prosecutor could then bring charges against them. They testified anyway. Because of their testimony, I was found innocent.

None of the women ever had a charge filed against them. 21 months later, my ex confessed to me and apologized. She finally admitted to what she had done.

I grew much in character from this; I believe for the better. It changed how I think about trials, police, judges, and attorneys. I vowed to myself that any jury I sit on, I will not listen to personal bias, and hear out all the facts.

I don't want someone to go through the same thing as myself. I recognize now that innocent people are jailed, and this has changed how I feel about the death penalty.

I am mildly paranoid at times, guarding my person and possessions closely.