Tallahassee, FL–According to Florida Sheriff’s Association, the Sheriff’s Reserve Unit is made up of dedicated volunteers who assist and augment the personnel of the Sheriff’s Office. The Reserve Deputy Sheriff’s are active members of the community who are trained to act in a limited manner as a Deputy Sheriff. They receive ongoing training in all aspects of law enforcement functions and work alongside of Deputies.
Reserve Deputy Don Odham replaced Det. Melinda McBride as Lead Detective on 17-year-old Black male college student, DeShon Thomas’ high-profile double murder case. Reserve Deputy Don Odham is a white male, with close ties to Sheriff Larry Campbell and State Prosecutor Jack Campbell—so it is not surprising that a non-Certified Deputy, acting in a volunteer capacity replaced Det. McBride, who is not of the white race—but is a full-time Certified Deputy with over a decade of experience. As Tallahassee’s ‘Southern Good Ol’ Boy Network’ reigns proudly as the whole World recently got a taste of Willie Meggs’ cockiness during the press conference of Jamies Winston case. Veteran State Attorney Willie Meggs (as some in the press referred to him) and others in authority have always undermined the integrity of women.
According to several full-time deputies’ reports, long before Reserve Deputy Don Odham replaced Det. McBride–Reserve Deputy Don Odham was ordering State Prosecutor Jack Campbell to issue frivolous Search Warrants for DeShon Thomas’ personal belongings—in which State Prosecutor Jack Campbell forced other deputies to act on Reserve Deputy Don Odham’s commands without consulting with Det. McBride or others to validate the cause for the Search Warrants. In Det. McBride’s report—she basically calls Reserve Deputy Don Odham a Liar (before she’s replaced by him).
In the case of State of Florida vs. DeShon Thomas, Det. McBride was called to the stand as a witness by State Prosecutor Jack Campbell. Det. McBride was not questioned about the rigorous and thorough work that she and other deputies conducted during her time as Lead Detective—which led them to basically conclude their investigation of Trentin Ross and DeShon Thomas without sufficient Probable Cause to charge DeShon Thomas with the murders. (Undermining a woman in charge.)
On the same day 21-year-old Trentin Ross was supposedly volunteered a confession of an acting participant in the double murders—Trentin Ross was given financial relief on his pending Leon County Court case against him. While Reserve Deputy Don Odham claimed responsibility for this revelation, no other deputy witnessed a Miranda Waiver form with what is supposed to be Trentin Ross’ signature–in which the signature looks forged in comparsion to another form with Trentin Ross’ signature on it that has both Det. McBride and another deputy’s signature as witnesses. (Again, undermining a woman in charge.)
Reserve Deputy Don Odham prepared the Probable Cause to have DeShon Thomas charged with the murders. State Prosecutor Jack Campbell approved the Probable Cause to have DeShon Thomas charged with the murders. And Judge Nina Ashenafi-Richardson signed the Probable Cause and issued an Arrest Warrant for DeShon Thomas (who was already in the Leon County Jail because of 5 pots of soil with marijuana stems sprouting from them that were found in Trentin Ross’ bedroom closet—DeShon Thomas had been charged as an adult).
While State Attorney Willie Meggs, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, his son—State Prosecutor Jack Campbell and Crony Reserve Deputy Don Odham thought that they were on a “Golden Road” to condemning a 17-year-old Black kid—it would be all but a “Golden Road”—more like a road made up of “Fool’s Gold!”
Without a doubt—more and more kids these days are committing some of the most heinous crimes imaginable—but that does not give authorities permission to just blame kids for crimes without first conducting a thoroughly investigation. In the double murder case, it’s obvious that Sheriff Larry Campbell and State Prosecutor Jack Campbell wanted their “Crony” Reserve Deputy Don Odham to walk down the Golden Road wearing a crown for “#1 Crime Fighter.”
DeShon Thomas had 1 private attorney, Gregory Cummings and 4 court appointed attorneys who all fell victim to State Attorney Willie Meggs, Sheriff Larry Campbell and State Prosecutor Jack Campbell’s acts of Good Ol’ Southern Boy Bullism.
Two months prior to DeShon Thomas’ double murder trial, there was an Evidentiary Hearing held facilitated by Defense Regional Counsel Daren Shippy. Several Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies who’d been subpoenaed to appear—did not appear. And those who did appear—did not support Former Reserve Deputy Don Odham’s accounts of any confession. Sgt. Kenneth Ganey basically tried to repeat what Former Reserve Deputy Don Odham stated but Sgt. Ganey seemed to know better than to assume full responsibility for Former Reserve Deputy Don Odham.
On October 15, 2013 State Prosecutor Jack Campbell told a jury of six that Sgt. Brian Pearson found Laqecia Herring’s cell phone at the crime scene (their residence). Laqecia Herring (the female victim) was located downstairs in their townhouse sitting in a single chair with two armrests. According to crime scene reports, Laqecia Herring’s cell phone charger was plugged into the wall behind her with the tip of the charger resting on the armrest. Several deputies, including Sgt. Brian Pearson, reported that Reserve Deputy Don Odham (whom they referred to as Det. Odham) located Laqecia Herring’s cell phone. According to their reports, including Det. Odham’s—Laqecia Herring’s cell phone was located upstairs in her bedroom wedged between a wall and mattresses that sat on the floor.
So why did State Prosecutor Jack Campbell tell the jury of six that Sgt. Brian Pearson found Laqecia Herring’s cell phone? Furthermore, why did Sgt. Brian Pearson take the stand and tell the jury that he located Laqecia Herring’s cell phone? It’s just a cell phone—why LIE about something of seemingly such small discovery?
Side Note: Having been fortunate enough to have spent years under highly moral, highly ethical—law enforcement officers, attorneys and judges—Lying is Never an option.
So, where State Attorney Willie Meggs, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, State Prosecutor Jack Campbell and Crony Former Reserve Deputy Don Odham thought that they were going to be “celebrated” for solving the double murder—and have a “slam dunk” trial—the trial was riddled with LIES—Sickly Contagious—with a cover up to to show little to no credit of former Reserve Deputy Don Odham having any real participation in the investigation or obtaining a confession from Trentin Ross. As a matter of fact, State Prosecutor Jack Campbell controlled every aspect of Former Reserve Deputy Don Odham’s testimony—interrupting him every time Reserve Deputy Don Odham wanted to elaborate on anything other than the picture being displayed. Like a monkey, Former Reserve Deputy Don Odham’s testimony was limited to only discussing the pictures of the places Trentin Ross had taken him/them. Monkey see, monkey say—nothing else–especially in regards to the confession. Defense Regional Counsel Daren Shippy stood for nothing (his actions in the courtroom were disgraceful—a true shut up lap dog).
State Prosecutor Jack Campbell could not get guilty verdicts had all of his witnesses took the stand and spoke the truth. State Prosecutor Jack Campbell could not get guilty verdicts without the support of State Attorney Willie Meggs and his dad, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell. State Prosecutor Jack Campbell could not get guilty verdicts had his “team of defense lawyers (Gregory Cummings and 4 court appointed lawyers) and Circuit Judges practiced morally and ethically.
Several State and Federal agencies have been informed of the misconduct that plagued DeShon Thomas’ case. The violation of U.S. Constitutional Rights of DeShon Thomas could only happen in a cocky controlled environment.
Please click/see the following documents extracted from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Discovery Report that supports one of many Leon County Sheriff‘s Office Internal Affairs Complaint against Sgt. Brian Pearson who committed Perjury during DeShon Thomas’ Trial.
**Sgt. Brian Pearson did not locate Laqecia Herring’s cell phone. Former Reserve Deputy Don Odham located Laqecia Herring’s cell phone.
As State Attorney Willie Meggs, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and State Prosecutor Jack Campbell set out to combat crime–they only seem to have been successful with making young people victims of their internal corruption.
DeShon Thomas is a victim! Rachel Hoffman is a victim! Darrielle Copeland is a victim! Ann Grosmaire is a victim! David Mays is a victim! Christina West is a victim! Jamies Winston’s accuser is a victim! Jamies Winston is a victim! And the list of State Attorney Willie Meggs continues to grow! And that’s no laughing matter!
Mothers Against Unethical Laws (MAUL) 