1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:05,066 JUDY WOODRUFF: When Jasson Howell Sr. received a mandatory 10-year federal prison sentence 2 00:00:06,933 --> 00:00:09,533 for heroin distribution, he shared that punishment with his family. 3 00:00:09,533 --> 00:00:14,533 Two of his four children went to live with his parents, Kim and Dale Howell. The couple 4 00:00:16,466 --> 00:00:20,200 has worked tirelessly to raise their grandchildren, while staying connected to their son. 5 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:25,366 Brief But Spectacular's Steve Goldbloom visited them in Portage, Wisconsin, in late 2019. 6 00:00:27,433 --> 00:00:31,966 DALE HOWELL, Grandfather: My son was always adventurous. Jasson was a hard worker. He 7 00:00:34,466 --> 00:00:38,600 got with a group of guys that were, for recreation, snorting pain pills on the weekends. Pretty 8 00:00:40,066 --> 00:00:43,533 soon, heroin was cheaper, and that became his drug of choice. 9 00:00:43,533 --> 00:00:47,766 It was constantly not enough money to pay for rent anymore, not enough money to keep 10 00:00:47,766 --> 00:00:52,733 the water on. It was hard enough to see it being our son and his wife, but the children 11 00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:55,533 were the hardest of all. 12 00:00:55,533 --> 00:01:00,500 Some of the people that he was with went into shooting up heroin. Jasson picked it up for 13 00:01:02,533 --> 00:01:05,733 a group of people. One of the kids shot up their girlfriend. She O.D.ed, see didn't die, 14 00:01:08,566 --> 00:01:13,566 but she did O.D. And he served -- he got sentenced to a mandatory federal prison sentence of 15 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,366 10 years. 16 00:01:17,366 --> 00:01:22,366 When Jasson did get incarcerated, our oldest grandson was left alone oftentimes to take 17 00:01:24,733 --> 00:01:27,566 care of his younger siblings, which was probably - - probably the hardest time of my life. Their 18 00:01:30,333 --> 00:01:33,366 mother had overdosed and was being taken to the hospital. 19 00:01:33,366 --> 00:01:38,366 KIMBERLY HOWELL, Grandmother: We were planning on getting all four the children. And when 20 00:01:40,366 --> 00:01:43,833 the courts decided to split them up between grandparents, that was a really hard situation. 21 00:01:45,866 --> 00:01:50,833 MARCUS HOWELL, 16 Years Old: When I learned my dad was going away, it was hard for all 22 00:01:52,733 --> 00:01:56,633 of us. The most challenging part, I'd say, was just learning how long he was going to 23 00:01:57,133 --> 00:01:59,300 be gone. 24 00:01:59,300 --> 00:02:02,800 KIMBERLY HOWELL: We see Jasson about three times a year. It's about an eight-and-a-half-hour 25 00:02:07,100 --> 00:02:09,500 journey there. 26 00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:13,100 DALE HOWELL: It's a horrible thing to experience. And it wouldn't be so bad if it was just Kim 27 00:02:15,033 --> 00:02:19,166 and I. But, usually, we have got four little ones' hands and taking them in as well. And 28 00:02:20,333 --> 00:02:22,300 they shouldn't have to experience that either. 29 00:02:22,300 --> 00:02:25,233 MARCUS HOWELL: The hardest part about seeing her dad is just knowing he can't come home 30 00:02:25,233 --> 00:02:27,233 with us that day. 31 00:02:27,233 --> 00:02:30,133 JASSON HOWELL JR., 13 Years Old: The best part about seeing my dad is remembering, like, 32 00:02:30,133 --> 00:02:35,133 all the good times that we have and that there's a lot more good times to come. 33 00:02:37,100 --> 00:02:40,466 KIMBERLY HOWELL: The most difficult thing is not being able to take my son home when 34 00:02:43,133 --> 00:02:48,133 we go and visit. He's my firstborn, and he's always been my buddy. 35 00:02:50,100 --> 00:02:52,266 DALE HOWELL: He's taken different classes in there. He's taken parenting classes. 36 00:02:52,266 --> 00:02:56,166 KIMBERLY HOWELL: I have seen a huge change in him. 37 00:02:56,166 --> 00:03:01,133 DALE HOWELL: He is learning through this rehab program in there to open up, to have to be 38 00:03:03,566 --> 00:03:05,533 accountable. He's had to reach out and say things to his children that he probably wouldn't 39 00:03:05,533 --> 00:03:07,666 have on his own, make apologies. 40 00:03:07,666 --> 00:03:12,666 MARCUS HOWELL: My grandparents, they have raised us for a while, and I feel they have 41 00:03:14,066 --> 00:03:16,066 taken over the role as parents, at least for now. 42 00:03:16,066 --> 00:03:20,866 DALE HOWELL: I used to feel like, oh, we got our grandkids. Don't feel that way anymore. 43 00:03:22,466 --> 00:03:24,433 We get to live with them. 44 00:03:24,433 --> 00:03:28,466 They have taught us so much. That addiction that has affected them, I still see it, and 45 00:03:30,633 --> 00:03:34,566 I wonder what they could have been or what they would have been or maybe what to only 46 00:03:34,566 --> 00:03:36,600 get to be because of what they have gone through. 47 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:41,466 KIMBERLY HOWELL: Whenever the phone rings, I look to see if it says restricted on it, 48 00:03:42,333 --> 00:03:43,566 because then I know it's him. 49 00:03:43,566 --> 00:03:44,766 COMPUTER VOICE: This call is from. 50 00:03:44,766 --> 00:03:46,200 JASSON HOWELL SR., Inmate: Jasson Howell. 51 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:47,133 COMPUTER VOICE: An inmate at a federal prison. 52 00:03:47,133 --> 00:03:48,066 JASSON HOWELL SR.: Hello? 53 00:03:48,066 --> 00:03:50,100 KIMBERLY HOWELL: Hi, buddy. 54 00:03:50,100 --> 00:03:52,333 JASSON HOWELL SR.: Glad I made the call, because I tried -- I tried making it. 55 00:03:52,333 --> 00:03:54,433 (LAUGHTER) 56 00:03:54,433 --> 00:03:57,933 KIMBERLY HOWELL: I know you did, honey. I know you did. So how did work go? 57 00:03:57,933 --> 00:04:02,900 JASSON HOWELL SR.: Work was OK. We had a little holiday meal today, so it was a little better 58 00:04:04,100 --> 00:04:05,100 than normal. 59 00:04:05,100 --> 00:04:06,333 JASSON HOWELL JR.: Hello? 60 00:04:06,333 --> 00:04:07,266 JASSON HOWELL SR.: What's up buddy? 61 00:04:07,266 --> 00:04:09,166 JASSON HOWELL JR.: Nothing much. 62 00:04:09,166 --> 00:04:11,866 I'm looking forward to spending time with my dad and just, like, messing around and 63 00:04:11,866 --> 00:04:13,100 goofing around. 64 00:04:13,100 --> 00:04:15,233 KIMBERLY HOWELL: OK, here's Marcus. 65 00:04:15,233 --> 00:04:20,233 The most exciting thing is, when my son gets out, he will be able to see his oldest, Marcus, 66 00:04:21,833 --> 00:04:23,233 graduate. 67 00:04:23,233 --> 00:04:25,233 JASSON HOWELL SR.: It is snowing out there at all, or no? 68 00:04:25,233 --> 00:04:29,033 MARCUS HOWELL: It was this morning. It's slowed down for a little bit. 69 00:04:29,033 --> 00:04:34,033 I just want to be able to do things with him and see him and not have any restrictions 70 00:04:34,500 --> 00:04:36,500 to that. 71 00:04:36,500 --> 00:04:39,333 KIMBERLY HOWELL: We have shared the sentence with our son. It's been a long journey. 72 00:04:39,333 --> 00:04:43,633 DALE HOWELL: The joy that comes to our hearts knowing he's going to get out, it's also a 73 00:04:43,633 --> 00:04:47,333 mixed bag, because that drug is tough one. 74 00:04:47,333 --> 00:04:52,333 You hear about people relapsing all the time. We hope that he will have this licked forever, 75 00:04:54,300 --> 00:04:58,033 but also, in the back of our mind, Kim and I both still kind of worry, do we have it? 76 00:05:03,133 --> 00:05:07,466 Do we get to stop worrying now? Are things going to be OK now? Is he telling the truth 77 00:05:07,466 --> 00:05:08,466 now? 78 00:05:08,466 --> 00:05:11,933 And I guess time will tell. 79 00:05:11,933 --> 00:05:13,133 My name is Dale Howell. 80 00:05:13,133 --> 00:05:14,833 KIMBERLY HOWELL: My name is Kimberly Howell. 81 00:05:14,833 --> 00:05:17,733 DALE HOWELL: And this has been our Brief But Spectacular take... 82 00:05:17,733 --> 00:05:19,766 KIMBERLY HOWELL: ... on our family. 83 00:05:19,766 --> 00:05:21,266 JASSON HOWELL SR.: Well, I hope you guys have a good day, buddy. I just wanted to make sure 84 00:05:21,266 --> 00:05:22,233 I can call and touch base with you guys. I love you a lot. 85 00:05:22,233 --> 00:05:24,233 MARCUS HOWELL: I love you, too. 86 00:05:24,233 --> 00:05:27,400 KIMBERLY HOWELL: We love you, too, buddy. Have a great day, OK? 87 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:28,900 COMPUTER VOICE: This call is from a federal prison. 88 00:05:28,900 --> 00:05:31,733 KIMBERLY HOWELL: Have a... 89 00:05:31,733 --> 00:05:36,733 JASSON HOWELL SR.: All right, I'll talk to you later. 90 00:05:37,866 --> 00:05:38,800 KIMBERLY HOWELL: OK, honey. Bye-bye. 91 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:39,600 JASSON HOWELL SR.: OK. Bye. 92 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:40,533 KIMBERLY HOWELL: Bye. 93 00:05:40,533 --> 00:05:42,600 JUDY WOODRUFF: What a story. 94 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,666 And we have an update on this piece. Dozens of inmates and staff members at the federal 95 00:05:44,666 --> 00:05:46,866 correctional institution in Milan, Michigan, where Jasson Howell is serving time, have 96 00:05:47,733 --> 00:05:49,833 been infected with COVID-19. 97 00:05:49,833 --> 00:05:54,833 There have been at least five deaths. Howell is expected to be released this November, 98 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,900 after completing a drug abuse program. However, due to the virus, he can no longer take the 99 00:06:00,700 --> 00:06:05,100 required classes.