I voluntarily took this program due to involvement of DCF intervention in my failing marriage. The power an control wheel was shared with me and I honestly did learn a fair amount. I took accountability for my actions and wrong doings, and learned that I could not control my partner and could only control myself and how I reacted to things. I also realized that my own personal growth would not change my spouse. Prior to beginning this program I was attacked by my drunken spouse leading to her arrest. She was released within 24 hours. I asked probing questions because although I was guilty of abusive behavior, I myself was being abused. Instead of a candid or open conversation, I was brow beaten and treated as if I was scum and was threatened with being failed out of the program for "not holding myself accountable." Finishing this program I spent countless hours from various resources to better myself. I made changes to how I acted and reacted to my spouse, not only because of this class, but also because I understood and feared the power that my spouse held, especially with DCF labeling me an aggressor. Time passed and eventually my spouse attacked me again in a drunken rage and fled the scene when I called law enforcement, with her then 10 year old daughter and our infant daughter. She is now on probation which includes a batterers intervention program. I did learn things in this class, but if the roles/genders were reversed it would have been a completely different experience, since it was clear in that in Paula's eyes, I was the problem. Instead of feeling like I was in a safe place to learn how to be a better human being, I was made to feel like a monster, all while being abused in my own home and even had the power and control wheel to refer to and the cognizance to understand that every section on that wheel was being perpetrated by my spouse. No doubt my soon to be ex-wife will not have the same treatment, because she is a woman. Something needs to change here.

Lawsuit Against No Abuse soon: I recently beat my felony case after proving with clear evidence that I was in another location when the incident happened. I then won a major wrongful-expulsion lawsuit against my university, settling for nearly fifty million dollars. Those experiences reminded me how important it is for programs and institutions to actually follow the law. Now I’m preparing to take legal action against the No Abuse program and Wilfredo Guzman. After studying Florida law, especially the statutes that regulate Batterers’ Intervention Programs, I found that what they are doing goes directly against the rules laid out in Florida Statute 741.325 and the certified provider guidelines. Florida law requires BIP counselors to focus only on the case that led to the referral. They are not allowed to force participants to admit guilt to dismissed charges, unrelated incidents, or cases that are still open. Despite that, Mr. Guzman repeatedly pressured people, including me, to talk about closed or unrelated allegations and to “take accountability” for matters the courts had already dismissed or resolved. In my situation, he tried to force me to admit guilt to a case I already proved I was innocent of, both in criminal court and through the civil settlement I won afterward. I even showed him and the No Abuse associates the relevant statutes, and they brushed them off by saying their attorney “knows better,” clearly their are incapable of reading statues for themselves, which only made it clearer that the program isn’t operating within the law. There are also recordings documenting these violations. Because of that, I plan to file a federal lawsuit. When the case succeeds, the state will likely have to either enforce the statute more strictly across all Florida programs or revise the law to make it harder for programs to misinterpret it. Given the pattern of misconduct, I may also seek to have Mr. Guzman reviewed or removed as a certified counselor and possibly have No Abuse shut down. Several news outlets have already shown interest in the story, and I expect this case to bring attention to how these programs have been operating outside the scope of Florida law.

If you’re required to attend a class due to a case that was closed with a withhold of adjudication, it’s important to remember that legally, you were not found guilty. At some point during the class, they may pressure you to accept guilt or take accountability for something you were not legally convicted of. It’s crucial to understand: they cannot force you to admit guilt for a charge where adjudication was withheld or for any unrelated incidents. To complete the program, you may find that you’re expected to discuss the alleged victim or the circumstances of the accusation. Some people, including myself, chose to create non-specific or fictional scenarios to fulfill the discussion requirements without admitting to something they weren’t convicted of. Keep the stories vague and non-damaging—they’re simply a way to meet the class requirements and finish the program. Once you complete the course and meet all probation conditions, you may have legal grounds to pursue a lawsuit—especially if you were coerced into making statements that imply guilt for charges that were never adjudicated. The law typically requires actual conviction for mandatory admission of guilt; without that, such practices could potentially violate your rights. The class is there to help you understand what you did wrong in how you handled things to a specific case. They should not be forcing you to admit to things you’re not guilty of. All they should be doing is talking about 1 same scenario if they have to because everything else is personal and court doesn’t grant them authority over personal cases outside the case that got you there. Look into the statutes that apply to your case, and if needed, consult a civil rights attorney after you’ve completed the program. You can also use resources like ChatGPT or legal aid to better understand your options.