These days, Jimi Simmons is living the good life in Los Altos with his wife and two children. But it’s been a long hard road to get there.
Simmons spent much of the first 30 years of his life in institutions, mostly orphanages and prisons. Following the poor treatment of his Native American tribe, which resulted in its disbandment in the 1940s, Simmons was born into a troubled life, and wound up in an orphanage as a toddler. By 18 he was in and out of jail for stealing, and later he went to prison for more violent robberies.
A new documentary film, “Making the River,” follows the story of Simmons’ life. It aired last week in San Jose, with proceeds from the showing going to the Bill Wilson Center, a foster care and youth services agency serving Santa Clara County. Sometime next month, the Bill Wilson Center is taking over operation of Mountain View’s Casa SAY youth shelter on View Street.
While Simmons and his brother were serving time — together they were arrested for mugging someone, and eventually for stabbing an undercover officer — they were accused of killing a prison guard. Jimi’s brother, George, confessed, but to this day it’s not known if he really did it as his story changed with every retelling. Simmons was found to be innocent of the crime.
Eventually, Simmons was paroled to Karen Rudolph, an activist who formed a defense committee to raise money for Simmons case. The two later married.
“It’s just amazing that Jimi’s out and he’s able to have a regular conversation with somebody,” said Paul Stoll. Stoll, 26, produced “Making the River” while Sarah Del Seronde, 30, directed. The Arizona residents kept a temporary office in Mountain View while they worked on the film.
The film was shot on a $200,000 budget through production company Aboriginal Lens. “It was a challenge,” said Stoll. “A lot of the cost was traveling and trying to find these people.”
Last week’s screening, with tickets at $45 each, went toward funding the expansion of the Bill Wilson Center into Mountain View. The center will be taking over the Casa SAY shelter at 509 View Street, according to Judy Whittier, director of community resources for the Bill Wilson Center.
Casa SAY is set to reopen sometime in mid to late April, with its focus on becoming a group home for runaway kids, said Whittier.
