Man Who Went Viral for Turning Himself into Police Now a Veterans Court Graduate

By Eliana Sheriff

BENTON COUNTY Wash.--"It's kind of hard thinking about talking to myself back then because I wasn't listening to much, I was in a dark place,” said Anthony Akers.

We first introduced you to Anthony Akers in December of 2018.

Then he was active in his addiction, in-and-out of jail, and on probation.

Richland Police were looking for Anthony who had a failure to appear warrant, and asked the public for help.

Anthony went viral after answering, saying, ‘Calm down, I’m going to turn myself in.’

"I couldn’t believe they were putting me on Facebook for basically not checking in with my probation officer. So I thought, I’ll respond, I’m kind of a smart aleck.”

That Facebook thread continued and thousands of people followed, wanting to see how this unlikely exchange would end.

But for Anthony, it was no laughing matter.

In-and-out of jail since 2006, the Navy veteran knew he had a problem, but he couldn’t see a way out.

Anthony says he picked up his alcohol dependency in the Navy, which got him kicked out.

He then got into narcotics, lost his license, and continued to spiral downhill.

“I was in active addiction, incarcerated after that for a new crime,” said Anthony Akers.

Then, one day an offer came he decided to take, a chance to enroll in Veterans Court.

"At the time, I didn’t have a lot of hope for much, you know. I kind of expected to end up in prison, but knowing it was a veteran program that gave me a little bit of hope,” said Akers.

A new program, headed by District Court Judge Dan Kathren.

Veterans Court has been running for about a year and a half in Benton County.

The community, as well as the prosecuting attorney, Andy Miller, wanted to start a therapeutic court, specifically for veterans. After getting the green light from Benton County Commissioners, including the funding to make Veterans Court a reality, the program has already helped change lives.

"There is a certain kind of brotherhood and sisterhood that veterans have that I think the rest of us can't completely understand if we have not served," said Judge Kathren.

Like Drug Court, Veterans Court helps people regain stability in their lives, and avoid going back to jail.

Veterans court provides vets with veteran mentors, something that most other therapeutic courts don't have.

They work on treating substance abuse, mental illness, military sexual trauma, or PTSD.

"Instead of being focused on punishment we are focused on treatment,” said Kathren.

Anthony had two choices. Face 6-8 years of prison time or go through Veterans Court, where he’d have to get sober, attend meetings, court appearances, and a veterans forum.

Anthony says the program is demanding, difficult, and humbling.

"When he got here, he did the work like nobody else. He joined the community, turned himself back around, and became the guy we all knew he’d become," said Judge Kathren.

"I couldn’t have asked for a better group of individuals to be accountable to. They bent over backwards to make sure I made it through but didn’t give in too much to where I could revert back to my old ways," said Akers.

Judge Kathren says often what motivates vets to come in in the first place is the rewards for graduating the court, like getting a case dismissed, a reduced crime, or some other legal benefit.

But judge says the real reward is getting your life back.

A year and a half later, he’s graduated, free and clear in the system.

Now with an eight-month-old and another baby on the way, a fiancé, a job, and his life back.

And yes, Anthony is still on Facebook, but for a much different reason now.

"I try to use my social media to inspire those that are still stuck in the struggle, show that it is something that can be accomplished, if you really want it. It's not easy, it's going to take some work and I feel like if I can do it, anybody can," said Akers.

Originally Published: https://keprtv.com/news/local/man-who-went-viral-for-turning-himself-into-police-now-a-veterans-court-graduate?fbclid=IwAR0uDoPKlslW8EZgLoMiHctnuGd3KHoKfCxFTAJj0pbcGgIw7OZpMMGBBJI