Cornealious Michael Anderson III

CORNELIUS MICHAEL ANDERSON III: People are usually upstanding citizens or criminals. Yet with Cornelius Michael “Mike” Anderson III, both descriptions were accurate of his past and present life.

Mike was convicted of armed robbery in 2000, and he was sentenced to thirteen years in prison. However, no one ever enforced his sentence. This second chance at a normal life gave Mike an opportunity to reform himself with society, which he did – instead of falling back into a pattern of crime. Mike joined a church, found the woman of his dreams, married her, had children, started a business, and proved himself to be an upstanding member of his community.

One day, though, a SWAT team unexpectedly came to his house to take Mike to jail – more than a decade after his conviction. Even with this delayed (in)justice, Mike, a changed man from the one who’d committed the crime, didn’t shy away from serving his time, accepting his punishment. Luckily, a judge ordered Mike’s release after less than 365 days behind bars due to his clear rehabilitation from his previous sins against society. When his past caught up to him, Mike bravely faced the consequences, striving to overcome the unfair obstacles in his path.

This man exemplifies the power of change and second chances. He has truly bettered himself and his community since his days of violent crime. Cornelius Michael Anderson III is an American Encore.