Tallahassee, FL—Who does that? Apparently, adults who hold positions of authority in Tallahassee do not have the mentality to be trusted with our kids as they transition into becoming young adults.
It’s AMAZING how it seems as though the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of Health, and The Florida Bar can enforce state and federal laws in every city in Florida except Tallahassee. The Internet is packed with information—news is available 24 hours a day. When and if a sheriff breaks the law in Liberty County and is held accountable—then the same should apply for State Attorney Willie Meggs, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son State Prosecutor Jack Campbell.
On February 7, 2011 Leon County Judge Nina Ashenafi-Richardson approved a Summary of Offense and Two Counts of 1st Degree Murder charging 17-year-old Tallahassee Community College Student DeShon Thomas with the murders of 20-year-old Laqecia Herring and her 17-year-old brother Sterling Conner Jr. Ms. Herring was twenty-one weeks pregnant at the time of her murder. Mr. Conner Jr. suffered with bipolar. About week after a team of full-time Certified Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies did not find sufficient evidence to charge DeShon with the murders, State Attorney Willie Meggs, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son State Prosecutor Jack Campbell elected Don Odham, a Leon County Sheriff’s Reserve Deputy, to prepare and present the Summary of Offense and Two Counts of 1st Degree Murder charging DeShon with the murders. Both on court documents and in verbal communication, Don Odham, who in essence is a volunteer law enforcement officer, was presented to Judge Nina Ashenafi-Richardson as a Leon County Sheriff’s Detective. State Attorney Willie Meggs, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son State Prosecutor Jack Campbell lied to Judge Nina Ashenafi-Richardson and the “Public” in order to get DeShon charged and arrested with the murders.
For nearly three years, DeShon’s case was stagnant in the Leon County Courthouse under Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson—going nowhere. Five attorneys—one private, four court appointed—still nowhere. While Don Odham, a close, wealthy friend of the Campbells, is no longer with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, he never had to attest to the LIES that he’d put in the Summary of Offense and Two Counts of 1st Degree Murder that he prepared. Don Odham was never subpoenaed for a deposition. No law enforcement authorities were deposed—no “key” witnesses were deposed. There was never an incriminating sworn deposition given about DeShon.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement received a written complaint regarding Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell allowing Don Odham to violate both DeShon and his mother’s Constitutional Rights before and after DeShon was charged with the murders. In December 2013, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement stated that Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell’s lies and his decision to allow his friend Don Odham to act outside of the scope of a Reserve Deputy and violate DeShon and his mother’s Constitutional Rights did not breach the Public’s Trust or any other violations.
Five attorneys failed to provide DeShon with the victims’ autopsy reports. When the people (the Public) contacted the District Two Medical Examiner’s Office to obtain copies—they were told that the State Attorney’s Office (Willie Meggs and Jack Campbell) did not allow for the autopsy reports to be made Public Record. The week of October 14, 2013 DeShon went on trial being represented by court-appointed Conflict Counsel Daren Shippy without ever reviewing the victims’ autopsy reports. The victims’ autopsies were performed by Dr. Anthony Clark. Dr. Clark committed Perjury—LIED—about his findings versus what he’d reported at the time of the autopsies. When DeShon’s mother first reported Dr. Anthony Clark’s Perjured testimony to the Florida Department of Health, instead of Department of Health investigators taking immediate action against Dr. Clark, DeShon’s mother was threatened about discussing confidential information (even after DeShon’s conviction—the victims’ autopsy reports remained confidential). In addition, the letter stated that Dr. Clark did not commit any violations.
Shortly after DeShon was charged with the murders, DeShon’s mother met Tallahassee Criminal Defense Attorney Gregory Cummings. Mr. Cummings degraded several Tallahassee attorneys and harassed DeShon’s mother to try to get her to hire him After DeShon had been in the Leon County Jail for about a month without an attorney—DeShon’s mother finally hired Mr. Cummings. Mr. Cummings hustled DeShon’s mother to hire him. However, Mr. Cummings’ hustle did not support his actions after the Contract for Service was signed.
After sixteen months of Mr. Cummings supposedly representing DeShon—DeShon’s mother learned that Mr. Cummings had not done anything to build a defense for DeShon—no depositions, no hearings to present evidence or anything thereof. State Prosecutor Jack Campbell had received about four or five continuances for trial—all granted by Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson. DeShon’s mother had paid Mr. Cummings $29850 of the $50000 in attorney fees. Mr. Cummings was eventually fired.
Both DeShon and his mother filed complaints with The Florida Bar against Mr. Cummings. DeShon and his mother learned that DeShon did in fact have an attorney during the 30 days that he sat in jail—unaware of his attorney and case events that were taking place in Circuit Judge Hankinson’s courtroom—unbeknowest to DeShon and his mother, a conspiracy foundation against DeShon was being prepared. As a matter of fact, Mr. Cummings knew that DeShon had an attorney—and never told DeShon or his mother. How did that happen? Circuit Judge Hankinson withheld the information from the Leon County Clerk of Courts—allowing Mr. Cummings time to execute his hustle. Mr. Cummings and Circuit Judge Hankinson cut the throat of Tallahassee Defense Attorney Baya Harrison—who was unaware as to having been court-appointed to DeShon’s case. While Mr. Cummings violated several of The Florida Bar Rules—Rules of Professional Conduct, including Rule 7.3: Direct Contact with Prospective Clients (b)(2) the solicitation involves coercion, duress or harassment. The Florida Bar responded saying that Mr. Cummings did not violate any of their rules.
After DeShon’s conviction, DeShon’s mother filed a complaint with the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission against Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson for violating a number of Canon Rules, including Canon 1: A JUDGE SHALL UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY.
—an independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. And a judge should participate in establishing, maintaining, and enforcing high standards of conduct, and shall personally observe those standards so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved. This provision of this code should be constructed and applied to further than objective. The Judicial Commission responded stating that Circuit Judge Hankinson did not violate any Canon Rule.
While FSU is responding with their version of a logical explanation to The New York Times allegations that it mishandled Jameis Winston’s rape allegations, those within Florida’s Judicial System and those in charge of governing those within Florida’s Judicial System seem to be exercising state and federal laws in every Florida city—EXCEPT Tallahassee.
Mothers Against Unethical Laws (MAUL) 