Aaron Hernandez Denies Gang Ties
By Josh Sanchez
On Monday, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was transferred to solitary confinement after the judge decided that would be the best decision for his safety. Jail authorities feared that Hernandez could be harmed by fellow inmates as someone looked for a quick claim to fame, especially if he had the gang ties that were previously reported.
Hernandez has often been seen wearing red and flashing gang signs that are associated with the Bristol Bloods, but all of the tattoos by Hernandez were examined and he denied any ties to the potential gang life.
“He talked to our gang investigators and said he didn’t have any involvement,” Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said, according to Christine McConville of the Boston Herald. “We always take extra precautions. We don’t have any definite issues at this point, but we’re still being very cautious.
“He’s been very polite, very respectful. He doesn’t seem nervous, which is unusual for someone who’s never been incarcerated before. He now has three hours out of his cell each day. That’s an hour outside, by himself, an hour to shower and make phone calls, and another hour to see visitors. . . .
“It’s a big shift in lifestyle, going from a 7,100-square-foot home to a seven-by-10-foot cell. This is a guy who is used to walking into a stadium and having thousands of people cheering his name. Now, he’s just another number, in another uniform. We want to make sure we’re paying attention to that.”
Hernandez may seem calm, but inside he has to be concerned that he has lived his last day as a free man. Either that, or he is just learning to deal with a schedule that could very well become his every day life.
The next time Hernandez faces a judge, the court will be looking to prove a motive.