
Fidelio Marin was born in 1970 at the San José farm, near the city of Izucar de Matamoros, Puebla in Mexico. His childhood was one of poverty, limitations, and chores around the house without time to study. Marin grew up without learning how to read nor write: there weren’t any schools in town.
Marin in now a prisoner at the q (SQSP), serving a 16 years-to-life sentence. Prior to SQSP, Marin has participated in self-help programs in search of his rehabilitation.
Cd: What motivated you to focus and be positive?
Marin: While attending the self-help programs I knew I had to change and not the other people; the marathons I’ve run and the programs at SQSP have helped me so much in my rehabilitation.
Cd: What motivated you to start running?
Marin: In 2013 at Soledad, a friend invited me to run to fight my obesity; I expected to lose weight, but I enjoyed it and continued running as a way to meditate.
Cd: What was your line of work prior to your incarceration?
Marin: I worked for a landscape-company as a gardener when I arrived in 1986. I learned the trade and started my own business in 1998. My landscape business allowed me to provide for my family’s needs, but unfortunately with the extra income, I started drinking constantly. Consequently in 2008 I lost my business and my freedom while intoxicated provoked the death of a person unintentionally.
Cd: How were you as a free person?
Marin: I was a good worker; but my addiction to alcohol led me to make the wrong decisions.
Cd: How has prison impacted your life?
Marin: It impacted me for the better. Today, I make good decisions, without lies and without anger; I even refrain from using profane language.
Cd: How did you adjust to your life in prison?
Marin: I asked for advice from inmates that appeared
honest and by listening to the counselors.
Cd: What goals do you plan to reach during this time?
Marin: Remain positive, work daily on my rehabilitation and graduate from GED.
Cd: How is your relation- ship with family, friends and clients while being in prison?
Marin: My family is good. I give advice to my children and brothers; they take the advice better now than when I was a drunk.
Cd: What are your biggest accomplishments while in prison?
Marin: A better relationship with God and 11 years of sobriety.
Cd: What are your immediate plans once paroled?
Be a good husband, father and son. Open a business and work hard in the community and to help in rehabilitative programs, as well as motivational programs for the youth.
Vicente Gómez y mar- tin Gómez trained together with Marin to keep in shape. “Marin has been of great sup- port to me.” Commented v. Gomez, and concluded, “and I had helped him too.”