BY DONNA SWICEGOOD

The first trio of graduates from the Iredell County Veterans Treatment Court have shown what’s possible when you seek help in a supportive environment — and stay the course.

The voluntary program aimed at veterans who have non-violent misdemeanor or low-level felony convictions, requires regular drug and alcohol screening, visits with probation officers and attendance at the treatment court meetings.

On Friday, Adrien Guillory, Michael McCaleb and Thomas Turbiville celebrated completing that difficult journey in front of more than 100 family, friends and partners.

Not present in the district courtroom Friday but sending well-wishes through a video call and letters were U.S. Rep. Pat Harrigan and Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis.

“It wasn’t an easy path but few things worthwhile are,” said Iredell County District Attorney Sarah Kirkman.

While Harrigan spoke via video call, his district director Niels Larsen gave his well-wishes in person.

“It’s important to take refuge in the fact that we all stumble in life. No one here is perfect,” Larsen said. “What do we do when we face failure? The most impactful thing we can do is learn from those setbacks and those failures — not let it define who we are.”

Resident Superior Court Judge Joe Crosswhite said it was a great accomplishment worthy of recognition.

“The fact that you’re here, I think, is a monumental achievement in your life,” he said.

The idea for the treatment court was proposed in 2022 by Purple Heart Homes and modeled on similar programs in other judicial districts.

It was intended to give those who volunteered to take part a second chance.

“Early on, people began to realize that what we put our military members through there are certain requirements, certain obligations they have that are not shared by anybody else in the community,” said Crosswhite, a retired colonel.

Some veterans attempt to deal with the stress and trauma associated with their military service by turning to drugs or alcohol, Crosswhite said, and they land in the court system.

That, he said, impacts their ability to hold a job and can be detrimental to their family life.

“This program was created as a way to kind of help, as a way to kind of give back to those veterans who gave so much to us,” Crosswhite said.

Brad Borders, mentor coordinator for the program, talked about the importance of those who mentored each veteran, another requirement of the program.

“A huge part of what makes this happen is our mentors,” he said. “These are veterans that come alongside these veterans to walk with them through this 16- to 18-month process.”

The three veterans who completed that rigorous program were presented with certificates as well as letters from Sen. Budd and Sen. Tillis.

Guillory, who served in the U.S. Navy, was celebrating 448 days of sobriety on Friday.

“I do appreciate the opportunity to go through the program,” he said. “I am a man of few words.”

District Court Judge Carole Hicks said Guillory has worked hard in this program while maintaining a job fulfilling other obligations.

McCaleb, who served in the U.S. Navy, now has 519 days of sobriety. He was accompanied by his mentor, Scott Stevenson.

McCaleb’s mentor, Chuck Harris, said this program is a far cry from what was available to earlier veterans who struggled when they returned home.

“There was no way of helping us recognize what we had. That is exactly what this forum does. It sits you down with veterans that have your problems, understands your issues, and can relate to you,” he said.

McCaleb, he said, wanted to get fixed.

“To say that it is a miracle I am here is a huge understatement,” McCaleb said.

He realizes he was probably not an ideal candidate for the treatment court on paper, but he was thankful for the opportunity.

“For that I will always be grateful,” McCaleb said. “When I came into the program I didn’t have the best attitude and I was headed to be a statistic. Because of the unselfish belief that the veterans treatment court team had in us it was contagious,” he said.

That belief, he said, made him believe in himself.

“If they believed in me, maybe there’s something there,” McCaleb said.

Turbiville, a U.S. Army veteran, was recognized for 521 days of sobriety.

Jared Bowman, Turbiville’s mentor, said that he came into the program and took advantage of every opportunity and emerged from a destructive path.

The ceremony included the presentation of plaques to each veteran made by Keith Bills.

Carrie Nitzu, assistant district attorney, said she was privileged to be in veterans treatment court. She said the community’s support of the program has made it possible.

“It is truly justice, service and healing,” she said.

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