Steven Ivanovich was born in 1961. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was President, the first human being had traveled into space, and student activists launched Freedom Rides to challenge segregation. These were interesting times.

Steven grew up in Gary, Indiana, the third of four children. It was not a cohesive family unit. His father left before Steven was born and his mother worked nights to keep the family clothed and fed. Steven was a hyperactive child and dyslexic as well, so school was not his favorite place.

He married young and had one daughter. He was divorced when she was three years old. He married again in 1985 and is married to this day, twenty-two years later to his second wife. Along the way, he obtained his GED and started a successful contracting business. By 1997, Steven had three more daughters and life was good. He lived in a large home he had built on ten acres in South Lake County Indiana. His business was very successful, he employed 28 people and regularly donated a portion of the profits to needy families and their children.

He then met with the Devil himself. Steven and a neighbor entered into a barter arrangement. Steven would put a new roof on the man's home, and the man would pave Steven's driveway. A fair arrangement, Steven immediately completed the neighbor's roof, to the man's satisfaction. The neighbor ignored the driveway job and after months of waiting, Steven finally filed a small claims lawsuit to have his driveway paved. Then all hell broke loose. The following ordeal took place over ten years time - we have only provided the highlights of the nightmare.

Systematically, the neighbor and his buddies and relatives worked to defame and destroy Steven and his business. They stalked Steven and his family and turned the system around against Steven. Before long, Steven was charged with hitting the neighbor with his truck. At a trial, he was found not guilty. Then, the neighbor's good friend accused Steven of intimidation. The neighbor's friend was 6 foot 7 and 350lbs. Steven was 5 foot 11 and 215lbs. The neighbor and his buddies drove by daily, jeering and laughing. They testified cohesively and Steven was found guilty of a crime he had not committed. The neighbor and his friend got an attorney with a lot political clout (translation: gifts and monetary donations to a few prosecutors), on their side. More lawsuits ensued and lawyers made money.

Then, in April of 2004, the neighbor challenged Steven to a fight in the middle of the street. The neighbor challenged Steven to a fight in the middle of the street. The neighbor took the first swing and was struck back. A few punches were exchanged and then each retreated to their vehicles. When the police arrived, the neighbor acted like a wounded man. Steven was arrested on the spot by some of the very same police that the attorney with clout represents. Steven was first charged with misdemeanor battery. The attorney with clout made his wishes known to the Lake County Prosecutors, and Steven was then charged with eleven felonies carrying a total sentence of over 83 years. Not wanting to take his chances with a jury and spend the rest of his life in jail, and with his family in mind, he plead guilty to confinement and intimidation and ended up in jail for 60 days and a 21 month probation. While in jail, he was placed in a cell with a former police officer who had committed serial murders and had thrown the bodies in the trunk of his squad car. Steven, was ill during his incarceration and the medical staff ignored his problems. He was denied necessary medical treatment and quickly lost 40 pounds. After being released, he was diagnosed as diabetic and doctors told him he was lucky he had survived the incarceration.

Terrified of what the neighbors would do next, Steven and his family moved 30 miles away and made payments on two houses for nearly a year. Finally, the beautiful home that he had built was sold at a loss to a friend of the neighbors. His business was ruined. Worst of all the incarceration left him depressed and without direction. And, predictably, the neighbor and the attorney with clout are now suing Steven and his wife for money. Sadly, sometimes the bad guys do win.

Who knows why people are willing to lie to frame an innocent man, jealousy? A desire to help out and vouch for their good friend? A need to be part of the group. It's the same thing as children on a playground gathering around the "one" they've all decided to torture. People can be sickeningly cruel.

The result is that Steven learned how corrupt the system is and how it can be twisted by those who have the right political friends. The police can choose a side, ignore the truth and lie under oath. In fact, in 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court determined in Briscoe v. LaHue, that the police can lie under oath in a criminal trial and may not be held accountable for their actions. In effect, the police have no responsibility to uphold the truth. Additionally, the prosecutors and judges have immunity and are protected from civil suits.

Essentially, an innocent person who does not have friends in the right places or the money to properly defend oneself may suffer the ultimate loss - loss of liberty, loss of freedom, loss of life.

Steven, because of his experiences, has dedicated his future toward helping those who have been wrongfully imprisoned. He began Innocent Man Walking to help those who are lost in the system. He is also concerned with those who have been exonerated, have not been compensated, and are unable to regain their lives. Steven is working hard to turn his horrifying experiences into a mission to help a group of people who are largely forgotten in our society.