9 minute read
a chance to change his life
by Kate Noet
Steven keller is pictured with his wife, kali, and their children, from left: Lincoln, rylynn and arabella. (Photo courtesy of Steven keller)
- Steven keller
18 months in Drug Court helps former addict transform his life
By MiStY SCHWaB misty.schwab@apgsomn.com
eighteen months ago, Owatonna resident Steven Keller would have laughed if someone told him what his life would look like in February 2021. at 29, he’s a husband, a father, and an associate pastor. and as of Feb. 24, he’s an official graduate of the Steele Waseca Drug Court. none of this would have seemed possible to Keller 18 months ago. at that point, he couldn’t imagine taking care of a child when he could barely take care of himself, he didn’t believe in god, and all he thought about was drugs.
“[Drug Court] helped me have an opportunity to truly change my life and turn it around,” Keller said. “it’s super, super awesome to be graduating and keep moving forward. i’m super grateful for Drug Court, but i’m ready to move on.”
During Keller’s virtual commencement, which marked 638 days of sobriety for him, Steele County attorney Daniel
Mcintosh said completing the Drug Court program in 18 months is “the exception and not the rule.”
Judge Joseph Bueltel said Keller’s motivation was evi-
Steven keller holds up the diploma he received as a result of completing the Steele waseca drug Court treatment program. it took keller 18 months to complete the program, which is the minimum number of months SwdC allows. (Photo courtesy of Steven keller)
dent from the get-go. He highlighted Keller’s diligence and professionalism through the process, particularly during the pandemic transitions.
“i think Steven’s done a good job of transitioning from traditional court to the COViD/Zoom world,” Bueltel said during Keller’s commencement. addressing Keller specifically, Bueltel said: “Come back and see us because we like to see people come back … others can see you as a role model.”
ups and downs
high school. For the majority of his time in Rochester, his life revolved around addictions. What started out as smoking marijuana and drinking at 16 or 17 escalated to an addiction to pain pills and methamphetamine, which he used for six years until he became sober.
“that’s all i thought about, all i craved,” Keller said of methamphetamine. “it controlled my life.”
Keller went through two to three inpatient treatments and three to four outpatient treatments, and moved from city to city in the process, but he kept falling back into addiction. His CONTINUED NEXT PAGE
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Steven keller received a cake from his supporters following his drug Court commencement ceremony Feb. 24. (Photo courtesy of Steven keller)
last relapse lasted over a year, and a felony charge of first-degree sale of meth and firstdegree possession of meth presented him with a decision. He could either complete treatment through the Steele Waseca Drug Court or accept a prison sentence of more than five years. that was an easy choice for Keller, who knew he didn’t want to spend over five years in prison. after being arrested, he made another life-changing decision while in jail — to give his life to god as a Christian. these choices together shaped the next 18 months of Keller’s recovery.
Drug Court helped Keller become sober with accountability, weekly check-ins with a probation officer, sobriety testings, and curfews enforced by the Owatonna Police Department. the regulations were at first difficult for Keller, who until that point had lived his life by his own terms. But between the Drug Court’s strict regiment and Keller’s own determination, he gained more sobriety over time.
“it really only takes one time using a drug or drinking alcohol and you can be hooked — for years and years,” Keller said. “in the 10 to 12 years i was using and drinking i saw things i wouldn’t wish upon anyone.” among those horrors, Keller said he witnessed drug overdoses and people choosing drugs over their children. in his own life, he recalls one of the most painful memories of seeing his mom, Denise espe, react to him being arrested after the Minnesota Drug task Force searched her house, where he lived at
- Steven keller
- Steven keller
the time, for drugs.
“i could see my mom’s face from the cop car and my heart broke. it was like i finally saw that it wasn’t just affecting me but everyone around me,” Keller said. “i got to see her in court, pleading for bail, that my charge was too high. But just to see my mom watch me walk into a courtroom with shackles on my hands and feet was devastating. it’s a memory i will never be able to get out of my head.” espe showed her thanks for her son’s health and new family during his virtual commencement. no matter how long it took for him to recover, she said, “i knew you could do it. i am just floored and in awe of what not only god can do but what you can do. i love you.”
Keller’s older brother and younger brother and sister were also impacted as they indirectly watched him struggle through addictions.
“i remember my older brother once telling me he’s sad because he doesn’t remember which memories are from when i was sober and which ones are from when i was using,” Keller said. “it’s definitely more of a reconciliation, being a sober man. i feel like i lost a lot of trust with my siblings ... it’s time and effort to regain that trust and regain those relationships.”
For those with loved ones stuck in addiction, Keller’s message is: “You can’t necessarily save them. You can lead a horse to water, but until that horse is ready to drink, it’s not your responsibility to save them.” Family members and friends might present options for treatments and meetings, he said, but ultimately the responsibility is in the hands of the addict — and they need to want to change.
“it’s a delicate balance of not enabling them, and not encouraging them in their addiction but giving them options of love,” he said.
New beginnings
Keller said he found it difficult to break ties with friends who continued to use drugs. But by deciding to become sober, he rekindled an old friendship with someone who, during his last relapse, had distanced herself from him. Kali was one of the first people Keller called after he was arrested, and now, she’s his wife.
Kali’s 7-year-old twins, lincoln and Rylynn, gave Keller his first taste of being a parent. now, they also have an infant daughter together, arabella. additionally, Keller’s wife introduced him to Redeemer Church in Owatonna, where she serves as worship leader. Keller began playing drums for the church and eventually felt a call to do more. He took the opportunity to become resident pastor of his church.
“He’s just come so far in the little over a year i’ve known him,” said Redeemer Church Pastor Christian Kose, who attended Keller’s commencement.
With his wife and another church member, Keller leads in-person, faithbased recovery meetings at Redeemer Church. Connecting over Zoom, he said, is not the same as the connection of in-person sobriety meetings. the coronavirus pandemic, said Keller, impacted him to a lesser degree than it may have earlier in his sobriety. He was close to a year sober when the pandemic hit, and already married and serving at his church. But he knows the reality that many in recovery likely lost control during government shutdowns and relapsed. this is a big reason why he leads the sobriety meetings in person, he said.
Members of Keller’s church family joined the Zoom call the day of his commencement, and he credited them for being a huge part of his life the past year or two, along with Steele Waseca Drug Court.
“i’m so grateful for this opportunity to Drug Court because it changed my life,” he said. “Being a drug addict, you become a slave to it. i’m a slave no more.”
Reporter Misty Schwab can be reached at 507-333-3135. Follow her on Twitter @ APGmisty. ©Copyright 2021 APG Media of Southern Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Call 451-8247 foron-goingregistrationor registeronlineat tlcowatonna.org/preschool Transportation&ExtendedCareoptionsavailable.
Steele WaSeCa DRUg COURt FaCtS
SWDC has served 209 participants with 102 that either withdrew-electing to serve their jail/prison time, transferred to another drug court or were terminated based on new criminal behavior or rejection of services. Steven Keller’s graduation marks the 69th commencement of Steele Waseca Drug Court.The first graduation was in April 2016, according to SWDC Coordinator Nicole Grams.The first DWI (driving under the influence) graduation was in December 2018. Currently, SWDC serves 38 participants. Grams said this number is down from usual numbers due to the pandemic. The five-phase program lasts a minimum of 18 months and requires weekly to monthly court attendance. The recovery program itself includes treatment, support meetings, mental health meetings, cognitive skills programs, and at least three hours of self-help recovery meetings per week. Participants also submit to random testing at least twice a week. To graduate, participants must not only complete treatment but also obtain a valid driver’s license, diploma or general educational diploma, employment, and compliance with child support if applicable. They must also make payments of fines, fees and restitution. The combined total days of sobriety among SWDC participants is 7,542 days an estimated average of 20.6 combined years. Average sobriety per participant is 198 days.
