Martha Stewart has opened up about her time in prison, revealing that it was far from glamorous. The 83-year-old lifestyle guru was incarcerated at Alderson Federal Prison Camp in 2004 on charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. In her upcoming Netflix documentary, "Martha," set to release on October 30, Stewart reflects on her "terrible" experience at the West Virginia correctional facility.
Stewart shared personal letters she had written throughout her life with filmmaker R. J. Cutler, some of which were written during her time in prison. In one letter, she recounts an encounter with two prison guards that led to trouble. "Today I saw two very well-dressed ladies walking and I breezed by them, remarking on the beautiful warm morning and how nice they looked. When I realized from the big silver key chain that they were guards, I lightly brushed the chain," she wrote, according to People. "Later I was called in to be told never, ever touch a guard without expecting severe reprimand."
After issuing a groveling apology to the guards, Stewart moved on from the incident, considering it "so minor when it occurred." However, her punishment was severe. "I was dragged into solitary for touching an officer," Stewart said. "No food or water for a day. This was Camp Cupcake, remember? That was the nickname. Camp Cupcake. It was not a cupcake."
Stewart was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction, and two counts of lying to federal investigators. She was also accused of securities fraud, though a jury found her not guilty on that charge. A judge sentenced her to five months in prison, five months of home confinement, and two years of supervised probation, along with a $30,000 fine.
Stewart has always maintained her innocence. In the documentary, she also detailed her first 150 days behind bars. "Physical exam, stripped of all clothes. Squat, arms out, cough — embarrassing," she wrote. "I had to do all that crap that you see in the movies. You can't even believe that that's what you're going through," she explained on camera. "Martha" premieres Oct. 30 on Netflix.
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