In response to Ed Kerr's Jan. 9 letter, "Mete 'swift, harsh' justice to home invaders," my name is Terry A. Welch III. I'm 18 years old. I'm a high school graduate. I was a standout football player and a great wrestler.

My parents are both officers in the U.S. military. I'm a big brother, a son, and now a convicted felon. First and foremost, I am sorry to the victims of this crime, and I'm sorry to the residents of the commonwealth of Virginia. I made a mistake that now is going to affect the rest of my life in some way.

I can't take back the crimes I was involved in. If I could I would. I will know my fate March 1, and I just want the people in the Fredericksburg region to know I am sorry from the bottom of my heart.

I know what I did was terribly wrong. I can't blame anyone but myself. I was under the influence of numerous things--the peer pressure of so-called friends, adulthood, fallout with family, the stresses of real life coming down on me at one time--but still it all came down to a terrible decision I made that night.

In what time that I am given, I would like to do something positive of some sort for juveniles to help them down the right path and teach that crime is not the life they want to live.

I'm deeply sorry to the community. I hope one day the community and the victims can forgive me.

Terry A. Welch

Stafford

(Terry A. Welch is to be sentenced to prison for his part in a local home invasion.--Ed.)