The investigator working with Damon’s legal team said we assembled the strongest lineup of character witnesses he’d ever seen. Included was former Texas land commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Garry Mauro and Arthur Schecter, a Houston attorney and a former ambassador to Bermuda under Bill Clinton.

Both had worked closely with Damon during the 2004 campaign. Schecter even gave him the keys to his River Oaks mansion to come and go as he pleased when in Houston.

Also testifying on his behalf was his priest where he attended church in Port Arthur, Father Don Donahugh, his football coach at TJ, Mike Owens, and his godfather and former editor of the Port Arthur News, Bill Maddox. His mother and I were also put on the stand.

Ultimately, it didn’t make any difference. Even though no guns were used and none of the victims were ever physically confronted, no mercy was shown.

Using a fairly new law that holds when three or more persons are involved in burglaries it can be treated as organized crime, they buried him. He’s not eligible for parole for 15 years. It’s doubtful he’ll ever get the drug treatment he needs.

Meanwhile, Genie and I are struggling and shedding a lot of tears but we’ll be OK. Ditto for Damon’s brothers, Brandon and Grayson.

Although our love is unconditional, we’re alternately furious with Damon for destroying what could have been such a productive life, and consumed with grief over the loss of that caring, charismatic kid who left home 15 years ago with such big dreams.

Above all, we hope and pray meth doesn’t bring down someone else’s child or loved one. Since this sordid chapter in our lives began, we have learned Grayson’s wife had two brothers driven to suicide by meth addiction.

In closing, we want to thank everyone who has reached out to us, and those who have wanted to but just didn’t know what to say. Your thoughts and prayers have been a blessing.

Sports editor Bob West can be e-mailed at rdwest@usa.net.