Month: August 2014

Tallahassee, FL—Parks &Crump Attorney at Law is headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida. Parks & Crump have been in the news media several times in regards to Wrongful Death cases. Most recent in Ferguson, Missouri where an unarmed teen was executed by a police officer while the teens hands were up in the air. Officials in Ferguson, Missouri started out being secret about what led up to the police officer shooting six shots into the teen, why the teens body lay out in the middle of the street for four or more hours, and the autopsy of the teen. Why?

Why did Parks & Crump have to hire Dr. Michael Baden to come perform an autopsy on a murdered teen?

The citizens of Ferguson, MO pay taxes that in turn pay the salaries for the medical examiner’s employees, including the police officer that executed the teen, as well as the salaries of other government officials. What would have happened if Parks & Crump would not have had the $10,000 examination fee to pay Dr. Michael Baden? Are ordinary citizens going to have to start setting money aside on top of paying taxes to gain access to documents that are considered to be ‘Public Record’?

On January 27, 2011, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell began investigating a double homicide case in southeast Tallahassee. The victims were 20-year-old Laqecia Herring and her 17-year-old brother, Sterling Conner Jr. While Julie Montanaro with local news station WCTV, along with other WCTV news reporters informed the community that the autopsy report of Ms. Herring revealed that she was twenty-one weeks pregnant, State Prosecutor Jack Campbell refused to allow the District Two Medical Examiner’s Office to release the autopsy report as Public Record.

Seventeen-year-old DeShon Thomas, a Black teen, who was attending his freshman year at Tallahassee Community College and crew member at Taco Bell, was the main focal point for Leon County Sheriff Detectives. On January 28, 2011, DeShon and his mother walked into the Leon County Sheriff’s Office asking to speak with a detective to inform them of threats that DeShon was aware of that had been made against the female victim. DeShon was bothered by the threats because the victim may have been pregnant with his child. Not long after they arrived at the sheriff’s office, DeShon and his mother were being subjected to racist vulgar, stripped apart, refused access to an attorney, DeShon was served with a number of search warrants, DeShon and his mother were locked in a room, held totally against their will, and hours later when DeShon was said to be placed under arrest by Detective Don Odham, Det. Odham refused to tell DeShon and his mother why DeShon was being arrested.

A few hours later, DeShon’s mother received a phone call to come pick up DeShon from the Juvenile Assessment Center. DeShon had been charged with Cultivation of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. It was reported in the Probable Cause Report that five pots of soil with marijuana stems sprouting from them had been located in the bedroom closet of DeShon’s co-worker, 21-year-old Trentin Ross. DeShon had been temporarily sleeping on the couch at Mr. Ross’ one-bedroom apartment. It was during the time when DeShon and his mother were at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office as to when detectives executed the search warrant at Mr. Ross’ one bedroom apartment. It was reported that while Mr. Ross admitted to watering the plants and turning the lights on over the plants, Mr. Ross would not say how the plants got into his bedroom closet. Mr. Ross was also charged with Cultivation of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Mr. Ross was also questioned by Lead Detective Melinda McBride and Lieutenant Tim Baxter about DeShon’s whereabouts the night of January 26, 2011 and the early morning hours of January 27, 2011. Mr. Ross told both Detective McBride and Lieutenant Baxter that DeShon was at work—Taco Bell located in northeast Tallahassee (nineteen miles away from the crime scene).

DeShon told Detective Odham and Detective McBride that he was at work. Both the manager and another crew member told detectives that DeShon was at work. DeShon’s timesheet shows that he was in fact at work. According to DeShon’s timesheet, DeShon clocked in at 1805 on January 26, 2011 and clocked out at 0130 on January 27, 2011. DeShon’s manager and co-worker informed detectives that DeShon was at work for his entire shift. DeShon’s co-worker also informed detectives that he gave DeShon a car ride to Mr. Ross’ apartment, which is located less than a half-mile away from Taco Bell. Neither DeShon nor Mr. Ross owned a vehicle.

According to the Leon County Discovery Report, in regards to Ms. Herring’s (female victim) outgoing cell phone activity, the last outgoing cell phone activity was a text to DeShon’s cell phone on January 26, 2011 at 10:59 p.m. Ms. Herring, who was the mother of a toddler at the time of her death, was known to use her cell phone regularly during the late night and into the early morning. The victims’ mother informed detectives that she’d taken Ms. Herring and Ms. Herring’s toddler daughter to the residential two-story townhome (which is also the mother’s residence) around 10 p.m. and they all went inside. The victims’ mother also informed detectives that her son, Sterling (the male victim) was not home during the time that she’d spent in the home. The victims’ mother left to go spend the night with her significant other around 10:30 p.m. She never saw Sterling alive that night.

The following morning, on January 27, 2011, around 10:20 a.m. when she returned home with her 16-year-old son and her significant other, there in the living room, was both of her children, they were deceased. However, while Ms. Herring’s body was setting in a comfortable position—in a chair—a position in which any experienced detective—let alone a county sheriff would say that she (Ms. Herring) clearly never saw the gun or the bullet coming her way—Sterling’s body was wrapped in two comforters nearly at the feet of Ms. Herring’s body. So much so, that the mother told detectives that she didn’t see him when she entered into the home. It wasn’t until her 16-year-old son saw him and made a statement that made her realize that there was someone else dead under the comforter. Neither the victims’ mother nor brother unwrapped the comforter to confirm that it was in fact Sterling.

After detectives began to investigate the crime scene, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell arrived at the scene. Detectives reported that there was a bullet hole in the comforter where Sterling’s head was located. As detectives began to unwrap one of the comforters, they were able to line up the bullet hole to a gunshot wound to the side of Sterling’s head. Detectives reported that there was no sign of forced entry or a struggle. Both victims were shot two times each—both shots to their head. According to a Crime Scene Log-In Sheet, FDLE officials worked the scene, but no one from the District Two Medical Examiner’s Office arrived at the scene.

Dr. Anthony Clark, with the District Two Medical Examiner’s Office began to perform the autopsies of the victims’ on the morning of January 28, 2011. By then, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office had obtained a Court Order for DeShon’s AT&T cell phone records and had DeShon being GPS tracked by his cell phone via AT&T. Leslie Rabon with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office requested AT&T to update her and Chris Corbitt with the Tallahassee Police Department of DeShon’s movements every fifteen minutes. In this request, Ms. Rabon left out all of the other law enforcement agencies, including Tallahassee Community College Police Office, in regards of such. At the time of Dr. Clark’s examination of Sterling, Dr. Clark located a bullet wound to the back of Sterling’s head. Although it may not be noted, this bullet wound to the back of Sterling’s head had to be the first bullet wound to enter into Sterling because of the point of entry and there not being a bullet hole in the comforter to line up with that particular wound. Any experienced detective and county sheriff must know that a person will not allow another person to wrap them in two comforters and then shoot them in the head.

In the victims’ mother’s statement, at no time was she asked nor did she mention, if the night of January 26, 2011, when she’d brought her daughter and granddaughter home, if she’d physically checked the residence to see if Sterling was in the home or if she’d just not seen Sterling in the downstairs area and assumed that Sterling was not at home.

Experienced medical examiners are aware that there are various aspects that have to be taken into account when it comes to the three stages of rigor mortis. Although Dr. Clark noted Ms. Herring was pregnant and overweight, Ms. Herring’s stage of rigor mortis was not consistent with that of her brother, Sterling’s. Dr. Clark noted that Sterling’s was physically fit for a 17-year-old and that Sterling’s stage of rigor mortis was in the moderate to full. According to Dr. Clark’s court testimony, since he did not come to the crime scene, he used crime scene photos and what he observed when he came in contact with the bodies as to determine the stage of rigor mortis when the victims were found murdered. Dr. Clark stated that Sterling was in the 2nd stage of rigor mortis. The 2nd stage of rigor mortis occurs after the victim has been deceased for 12 hours or more.

In the Summary of Offense for Two Counts of 1^st Degree Murder and Probable Cause drafted by Leon County Sheriff Detective Don Odham and Approved by State Prosecutor Jack Campbell on February 7, 2011, Detective Don Odham states that Mr. Ross voluntarily came to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and gave incriminating statements to him in regards to the murders. Detective Don Odham states that Mr. Ross used his girlfriend’s car to drive DeShon to the victims’ residence around 4 a.m. the morning of January 27, 2011. As Detective Don Odham reports that Mr. Ross parked across the street from the victims’ residence and later heard two gunshots around 4:15 a.m. (It’s no wonder why State Prosecutor Jack Campbell refused to allow the District Two Medical Examiner’s Office to allow the victims’ autopsy reports to be made a matter of Public Record. No doctor in their right mind would testify that between 4:15 a.m. and 10:20 a.m. (approx. 6 hours) that a victim would be in an advance stage of rigor mortis, unless there was a question about the conditions of the environment—something Dr. Clark would not know about because neither Dr. Clark nor anyone from the District Two Medical Examiner’s Office came to the crime scene.)  DeShon was charged with the murders. DeShon entered Not Guilty on all charges. DeShon is INNOCENT!         

DeShon had a private attorney by the name of Gregory Cummings who was fired. DeShon had several court-appointed attorneys. DeShon’s court appointed attorneys filed Motions to Withdraw. Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson violated DeShon’s right to due process, while allowing State Prosecutor Jack Campbell to act out prosecutorial misconduct. Circuit Judge Hankinson was taken off of the case. State Prosecutor Jack Campbell used every resource available to his advantage of being the son of the criminal investigation agency—the prosecution of 17-year-old DeShon Thomas was without a doubt a “Family and Friends Affair”. During DeShon’s trial, DeShon and his mother learned that Detective Don Odham was not a Leon County Sheriff’s Detective at all—Detective Don Odham was not on the payroll—was not creditable—instead, he was a friend of the Campbell Family. None of DeShon’s attorney would file documents for the victims’ autopsy reports to be made Public Record.

Florida Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi were notified about the corruption as it played out over the nearly three years that it took for DeShon to go to trial. DeShon’s mother begged for a Special Prosecutor—to no avail. DeShon’s mother informed Attorney General Pam Bondi about the judge allowing perjured testimony to go to the jury—to no avail.

Dr. Michael Baden waived his $10,000 fee in the Ferguson case, saving Parks & Crump money to go toward other costs that will help the teen’s family in their seek for justice. In a press conference, Dr. Baden seemed to be disgusted by simply having to perform an autopsy because the local medical examiner’s office couldn’t be trusted—they were not releasing any information to the teen victim’s family. Dr. Baden told the press that, “We all deserve and should expect transparency in death investigation.”

History has shown us time and time again—that where there’s cover-up—there’s CORRUPTION.

 

Tallahassee, FL—Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and Second Judicial Circuit Willie Meggs don’t have to enforce training their employees to show the community that they are tough on crime because they both utilize Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell to make the case and prosecute the case without any moral or legal boundaries.

Forty-something year-old Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell grew up surrounded by law enforcement officers (Cops). His dad, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, has over 50 years of law enforcement under his belt—all having served in Tallahassee, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Headquarter Office. Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell has been working for Second Judicial Circuit State Attorney Willie Meggs for over a decade. State Attorney Willie Meggs has served as the Second Judicial Circuit State Attorney for over 30 years. There is no wonder why Tallahassee citizens have a strong belief that Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell is being groomed by State Attorney Willie Meggs to be the next Second Judicial Circuit State Attorney.

Within both the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the Second Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell is known for his highly charged arrogance especially displayed in the courtrooms located in the Leon County Courthouse. Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell is usually handed Tallahassee’s high profile cases by State Attorney Willie Meggs. As Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell prepares to prosecute the cases, he (Jack Campbell) proves to be no match for the Office of Public Defenders led by Nancy Daniels. Neither does he (Jack Campbell) prove to be a match for the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel of the First District Court of Appeals headed up by Jeffery “Jeff” Lewis. And lastly, he (Jack Campbell) plots and schemes with local private attorneys, mostly contracted with the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, to lose cases but allow them to walk away with financial gain.

*Who would dare question Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell’s mode for prosecuting cases in order to win convictions?

Of course, convictions will enhance Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell’s record. Convictions will also enhance the records of the two elected officials closes to him—his dad, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his boss, State Attorney Willie Meggs. Apparently, Florida State Legislators believe that Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell can prosecute cases that his dad’s agency (the Leon County Sheriff’s Office) has jurisdiction over the investigation without bias. Therefore, allowing law enforcement officers (Cops) to be trained to commit perjury and mail fraud in order to make the case against defendants, as well as, allowing Leon County Judges and Second Judicial Circuit Judges to be instructed by Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell as he prepares to prosecute defendants. (Judicial Circuit Judges are also elected positions.)

Tallahassee, FL—Over the years, the more growing and most difficult question has become what is not beneath those within Tallahassee’s Judicial System?

In 2008, State Attorney Willie Meggs seemed to blame 23-year-old Rachel Hoffman for her own murder. Ms. Hoffman had recently graduated from Florida State University and had been arrested for possession of marijuana. In an effort to prevent her parents from learning of her arrest and any further prosecution, she offered to become a drug informant. Police put Ms. Hoffman in a much more dangerous situation than her not wanting to disappointment her parents. In the process of attempting to sell a gun and some drugs to a drug dealer, Ms. Hoffman was murdered under the nose of several police officers. Despite several acts of incompetence by police officers, State Attorney Willie Meggs did not hold any of the police officers accountable.

In 2009, Dr. Mark Hash and Dr. Stephen Duncan’s clinic was raided by FDLE agents. Both Dr. Hash and Dr. Stephen Duncan, along with other employees were arrested. Dr. Hash was charged with several felonies, including prescription fraud. In May 2011 a month before Dr. Hash was to go on trial, State Attorney Willie Meggs dropped all charges. The Florida Department of Health stated that there was an administrative complaint still pending against Dr. Hash. It has since been reported that the day after Dr. Hash learned of all charges being dropped against him, Dr. Hash stated that earlier in the investigation, the brake lines to one of his cars had been cut and that he was concerned about his family’s safety. Also, after the charges had been dropped against Dr. Hash, it has been reported that several assistant state attorneys were clients at Dr. Hash’s clinic. Currently, Dr. Hash has a pending lawsuit against the FDLE for false arrest.

In April 2011, Leon County Sheriff Sergeant David Graham was named “Deputy of the Year”. In February 2012, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sergeant David Graham, charging him with Grand Theft of a Firearm and Grand Theft of $9000, stating that Sergeant Graham had stolen from a 91-year-old citizen that he’d befriended while investigating a previous crime incident. Upon being arrested, Sergeant Graham was terminated from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. On March 29, 2012, an arrest warrant was issued for Mr. Graham’s wife, Vicki Luggi-Graham and additional warrants for Mr. Graham. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office stated that the additional charges were due to the 91-year-old victim changing his statement stating that nearly $70,000 in cash had been stolen, as well as gold and silver coins. Shortly before Sergeant Graham was charged, arrested and terminated—a few anonymous letters had been sent to a Tallahassee blogger informing them about racism and other unethical practices involving Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his command staff. It was said that Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell was upset and desperate to learn as to who was sending the anonymous letters. It’s been said that Mr. Graham was the author of those letters. On August 16, 2013, Mr. David Graham was found Not Guilty!

In January 2011, the Leon County Sheriff Office began an investigation into a double homicide of 21-year-old Laqecia Herring and her 17-year-old brother, Sterling Conner Jr. The victims’ mother and siblings had spent the night away from home, only to return to find their loved ones deceased. Ms. Herring was pregnant. Ms. Herring also was the mother of a toddler daughter. Although Ms. Herring’s daughter was home at the time, she was unharmed. Leon County Sheriff’s Office conducted Gun Shot Residue kits on the victims’ family members before focusing on 17-year-old DeShon Thomas. However, eleven days into the investigation, detectives were not able to present sufficient probable cause to charge DeShon with the murders in any form or fashion, but there were plenty of evidence and witness statements that led detectives to other promising suspects. It was a heated exchange of words and an unlawful encounter between DeShon, his mother and Detective Don Odham at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office that made Detective Odham disgruntle and with cause to retaliate against DeShon and his mother. Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell, the son of Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, teamed up with Detective Don Odham and assisted with preparing a Summary of Offense for Two Counts of 1^st Degree Murder and Probable Cause to have DeShon charged and arrested for the murders. Detective Don Odham, State Attorney Willie Meggs, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, and his son, Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell filed false court documents—LYING about events stated in the probable cause. In addition to those lies, Don Odham, State Attorney Willie Meggs, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell– LIED about Don Odham’s capacity with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. In court documents and Leon County Sheriff’s reports, Don Odham is stated to be a Leon County Sheriff’s Detective, including Lead Detective on the double homicide case. When in fact, Don Odham–a close, wealthy friend of the Campbell family, was only a Leon County Reserve Deputy—a volunteer. “Detective” Don Odham had no support of other real full-time detectives that had been working tirelessly on the case. Only a wealthy personal friend to the sheriff’s can spit on all of the hard work of a team of experienced full-time Leon County Sheriff’s Detectives, the Leon County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit, and the Leon County  Sheriff’s Crime Scene Technicians in an effort to claim for himself the credit for having solved the double homicide case. Thus, thinking that by charging a Black 17-year-old male would be a slam dunk case. While there was no physical, material or circumstantial evidence—and no motive for DeShon to murder the victims, there was plenty of self-destruction by judicial officials. DeShon Thomas, who had obtained his GED and was a full-time Tallahassee Community College student, also had been working at Taco Bell for nearly a year at the time of his arrest. DeShon’s mother hired Tallahassee Defense Attorney Gregory Cummings. After sixteen months, Mr. Cummings refused to provide/discuss with DeShon information that could’ve exonerated him—such as the victims autopsy reports. Mr. Cummings, who had received nearly $30,000 from DeShon’s mother, was fired off of DeShon’s case, however, The Florida Bar failed to hold Mr. Cummings responsible for withholding information from his client. At the time Mr. Cummings announced to the media that he was no longer representing DeShon, State Attorney Willie Meggs announced that DeShon was being charged with Solicitation to Commit Murder with target being that of the one and only witness against DeShon. A witness whom “Detective” Don Odham claimed to have voluntarily contacted him and gave incriminating statements that gave weight to charging DeShon with the murders–an account that the Lead Detective on the double murder case at the time disputes. It was reported that State Attorney Willie Meggs said DeShon had hired a fellow inmate to carry out a hit on the key witness. In a WCTV news article titled, ‘Murder Suspect Accused of Trying to Arrange Hit Man’, State Attorney Willie Meggs is quoted as to say, “It could have happened at anytime because the person that was supposed to be doing it was in fact…had made bond and was out.” What State Attorney Willie Meggs did not say was that Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell, who was prosecuting the case, had used his knowledge of the Leon County Jails Standard of Operating Procedures, to have Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Ronald O’Brien smuggle contraband into the jail in an effort to get letters to DeShon. Deputy O’Brien did not work in the jail and had no knowledge of what he was doing—he just did as he was told. Had DeShon solicited an inmate to murder a key witness, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office is staffed with a team of staff members trained in their Gang Unit to handle those types of incidents. But, those trained members are spit on by those closest to Sheriff Larry Campbell, in this case his son, and are conducting things themselves. State Attorney Willie Meggs did not say to the media that in fact, State Prosecutor Jack Campbell and State Attorney Investigator Jason Newlin solicited the inmate to entrap DeShon. DeShon NEVER asked the inmate to murder anyone! Also, State Attorney Willie Meggs did not say to the media that the inmate, who had just been captured by the Fugitive Task Force in Tifton, Georgia on two outstanding warrants for Armed Bank Robbery in Tallahassee, was out of the Leon County Jail on a $15,000 bond and was being financially supported by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The truth is State Prosecutor Jack Campbell arranged the “Hit Man” and State Attorney Investigator Jason Newlin and Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Ronald O’Brien coddled the “Hit Man” for a short time after his release. Four months after the “Hit Man” had been released from the Leon County Jail, he committed a number of crimes in a neighboring county—including Armed Home Invasion Robbery with Kidnapping. Yes, these are the type of people that are knowingly being released into the community by judicial officials. When there is a father and son investigating and prosecuting criminal cases—one would be FOOLISH to think that they are going to proceed ethically.In an email sent DeShon’s mother from Mr. Cummings after he’d been fired, Mr. Cummings states that State Prosecutor Jack Campbell was not forthcoming with allowing him to do due diligence for DeShon. Clearly, Mr. Cummings was being bullied by Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson and State Prosecutor Jack Campbell. Who can an attorney turn to for assistance when the judge and the prosecutor are acting unethically? Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son State Prosecutor Jack Campbell have proven time and time again that they are bullies in and out of the courtroom. WCTV news reporter Julie Montanaro has been on hand to support the bullying of the father and son—smearing the names of those accused—making them seem guilty before their day in court. During DeShon’s trial, Julie Montanaro protected the identity of State Prosecutor Jack Campbell’s two witnesses against DeShon, including the previous bank robber. However, Julie Montanaro published the name and nearly all of the testimony of a young college student who was a defense witness. They young lady was a neighbor of the victims. She did not know DeShon at all.

Prior to hiring Mr. Cummings, Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson and the Office of Regional Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel Attorney Samuel Olmstead were conspiring together—they were conducting case events without DeShon. DeShon had no idea that he’d had an attorney on his case. After firing Mr. Cummings, DeShon’s case defaulted back to Judge Hankinson to appoint an attorney. Eventually, DeShon’s case was back being handled by the Regional Counsel’s Office. In October 2013, after a number of perjured testimonies, DeShon was convicted on Two Counts of 1^st Degree Murder and Solicitation to Commit 1^st Degree Murder. While several Florida attorneys and abroad have laughed in disgust about the judicial process in Tallahassee, often using the word “ridiculous”—17-year-old DeShon was now 20-year-old DeShon being convicted for Two Counts of Murder in which both victims autopsy reports were never provided to him or the Public. The State Prosecutor Jack Campbell refused to allow the Medical Examiner’s Office to make them public record. In addition, a fake—non-creditable detective—had committed a crime in another state which was an insight look of his lack of care for humanity. And also, the solicitation to commit murder plot that the State Prosecutor admitted to being the ring leader—which totally contradicts what’s on the Probable Cause Report for the Solicitation to Commit 1^st Degree Murder which led to DeShon being charged.

Yes, it’s CHOATIC! It’s SICKENING! It’s a CLEAR view into Tallahassee’s Corrupt Judicial System! A system which allows the medical examiner, Dr. Anthony Clark, to commit perjury—with the support of the State of Florida Health Department. When DeShon’s mother filed a complaint with the State of Florida Health Department with supporting evidence to show that Dr. Clark had committed perjury, the State of Florida Health Department responded by threatening to have her charged for violating Florida Statutes versus addressing the facts of the complaint. FDLE has refused to bring charges against Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell for breach of Public Trust. Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell allowed his son, State Prosecutor Jack Campbell to use the Leon County Jail to conduct an illegal operation which included smuggling contraband into the jail. This operation undermines the citizens of Tallahassee as well as the Leon County Sheriff’s Office staff members who undergo numerous hours of training in order to qualify for grant money and to protect both the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and inmates.

There seems to be nothing beneath Tallahassee Corrupt Judicial System. Having DeShon Thomas in prison clearly screams that Tallahassee judicial officials have no problem with knowing that there is an INNOCENT teenage in prison—and that there’s a cold-blooded murderer in the community.

Only those closest to Florida State University Law Professor Dan Markel know what Mr. Markel had been involved in leading up to his murder. Are they afraid to come forward? Dr. Mark Hash is afraid for his family and what they’re going through. Being afraid is natural, but when Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, his son State Prosecutor Jack Campbell and State Attorney Willie Meggs seems to have the protection of both the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Tallahassee and Jacksonville, as well as the Department of Justice in Tallahassee, it could be terrifying! Is it be possible that Professor Dan Markel is a victim of Tallahassee’s Corrupt Judicial System? A month into the investigation of Dan Markel’s murder—and no arrest. WHY?

Tallahassee, FL— Second Circuit State Attorney Willie Meggs, a Tallahassee native, has been in office for over 25 years. Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, a Jacksonville native, has been involved in law enforcement in Tallahassee for over 50 years. Sheriff Campbell who attended the FBI Academy, who worked for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and who served as Leon County Undersheriff before becoming Leon County Sheriff, has built a solid bridge relationship with State Attorney Willie Meggs. So much so, that Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell’s forty-three year old son, Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell, has worked for Willie Meggs’ Office for over ten years; and Willie Meggs’ son is a Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy.

Apparently, Florida Sunshine laws does not prohibit family members working in different government agencies, however, most, if not all, Florida citizens will agree that it is HIGHLY unethical for State Attorney Willie Meggs to allow Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell to prosecute criminal cases that the Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell has jurisdiction. State Attorney Willie Meggs’ Office is responsible for six counties in the Florida panhandle. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office, which is located in Tallahassee, is just one of seven law enforcement agencies in Tallahassee’s 103.1 square miles.

The Tallahassee Police Department has had a number of different people hold the position Chief of Police over the past 10 years. Just recently, in December 2013, the Tallahassee Police Department hired a new Police Chief. This unstable position at the Tallahassee Police Department, has allowed State Attorney Willie Meggs and Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell to act unethically. Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell has allowed his office to investigate crimes outside of their jurisdiction in a “Bullyish” manner. And State Attorney Willie Meggs has supported those investigations.

On May 2, 2010, thirteen-year-old Darrielle Copeland was the passenger in her mother’s car when a 3 ton SUV, being driven by a Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy’s wife, barreled through a red light and T-boned Darrielle’s mother’s car. Darrielle’s mother and brother were significantly injured. Unfortunately, Darrielle Copeland, a promising basketball player at Florida High, passed away.

Three different law enforcement agencies responded to the scene of the accident. The Tallahassee Police Department, the Florida Highway Patrol and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office were all on hand. The jurisdiction belonged to the Tallahassee Police Department—in which they were the first to arrive on the scene. It’s been reported that when the Leon County Sheriff’s Office arrived, the Tallahassee Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol were instructed to direct traffic, while the Leon County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation of the accident.

It’s been reported, despite several factors that proved to show that the Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy’s wife was driving reckless, including having drugs in her system, 2^nd Circuit State Attorney Willie Meggs refused to bring about charges. The woman that took Darrielle from her loving family received two citations—one for running a red light and another for careless driving. Leaving Darrielle’s family traumatized forever! NO JUSTICE!!!!

On January 28, 2011, seventeen-year-old DeShon Thomas and his mother walked into the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to give a voluntary statement to a detective in order to assist in a double homicide investigation that had began the previous day. DeShon’s mother specifically asked to speak with a detective. DeShon and his mother were approached in the lobby by an overweight “Loud Mouth” white man and two other white men who appeared to be very timid. All of the men were dressed in plain clothes. The “Loud Mouth” white man was very racist, and clearly didn’t have a care for Civil Rights laws. The “Loud Mouth” white man literally used his body to block DeShon’s mother from getting onto the elevator with her son as she and her son wanted to go give statements. This “Loud Mouth” white man was Detective Don Odham. Detective Don Odham blocked DeShon’s mother out of the elevator until the elevator doors closed. DeShon’s mother informed the Deputy on Duty in the lobby that she was invoked her son’s Miranda Rights. The deputy called and informed the deputies—DeShon’s mother was ignored.

A number of things that could’ve been avoided took place during the seven hours of DeShon and his mother being illegally detained at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. When Detective Don Odham became angry with DeShon’s mother for directing her son to “Let’s go,” Detective Don Odham placed DeShon under arrest and kicked DeShon’s mother out of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. While DeShon was not charged with the murders, DeShon was served with several search warrants for his finger prints, photographs, and other personals.

Ten days later, DeShon was charged with Two Counts of 1^st Degree Murder. The Summary of Offense for Two Counts of 1^st Degree Murder and Probable Cause Report was drafted and filed by Detective Don Odham. In the report, Detective Don Odham stated that he’d received voluntary statements from Trentin Ross. DeShon’s co-worker/roommate (DeShon’s permanent residence was not with 21-year-old Trentin Ross). Mr. Ross had criminal charges pending against him.

As one would imagine how any criminal case being investigated and prosecuted by a father and son team would be handled—DeShon’s case was handled in such that manner—and probably worse.

It would take nearly three years for DeShon and his mother to learn that Detective Don Odham was NOT a Leon County Sheriff’s Detective as Second Circuit State Attorney Willie Meggs, Chief Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and Assistant State Attorney/ Prosecutor Jack Campbell had presented to the Grand Jury, as well as three Leon County Judges—Judge Ronald Flury, Judge Robert Wheeler and Juge Nina Ashenafi-Richardson, also to one circuit judge—Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson and then later Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford.

“Detective” Don Odham, was a Reserve Deputy—a volunteer deputy. As described by a former Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy, “Detective” Don Odham is a wealthy, close personal friend to Leon County Sheriff Larry Campell and his son Jack Campbell. Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell approved “Detective” Don Odham’s Summary of Offense for Two Counts of 1^st Degree Murder and Probable Cause charging DeShon with the murders, despite being informed by other deputies, including Lead Detective Melinda McBride, the “Detective” Don Odham was not being truthful. Not only did Second District State Attorney Willie Meggs, Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell, Chief Assistant Georgia Cappleman and Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell lie about Mr. Don Odham’s capacity with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, they lied and said that “Detective” Don Odham was the Lead Detective on the double homicide case.

Leon County Sheriff’s Detective Melinda McBride, a Black woman, was in fact the lead detective on the double homicide case. Detective McBride and her team of detectives did not present sufficient probable cause to have DeShon charged with the murders and had began investigating other promising leads. Simultaneous to Lead Detective McBride and her teams efforts, “Detective” Don Odham, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son, Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell, as well as Second State Attorney Willie Meggs were plotting their own way to make an arrest. It is believed that’s why “Detective” Don Odham, who already had quite a few heated exchanges of words with DeShon’s mother—was front and center to move forward with lying in order to have DeShon charged with the murders.

Citizens of Tallahassee should be comfortable knowing that each and every criminal investigation is properly handled by the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the area where the crime occurred. Citizens of Tallahassee should be comfortable knowing that when they walk into the office of a law enforcement agency and specifically ask to speak with a detective, they are going to speak with a detective or a full-time deputy of that agency. Not a volunteer, wealthy friend who is feeding the sheriff and the command staff money to allow him to play “Detective”—including being allowed to wear plain clothes versus a uniform. Volunteer deputies have limited duties in their capacity—they are not allowed to perform the duties or attain the responsibilities of a detective—let alone on a double homicide case. Furthermore, “Detective” Don Odham, a former businessman, does not have the credentials to pretend to be a detective. All “Detective” Don Odham had was the false sense of security that Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son, Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell, along with other corrupt officials would make him the “Hero” of the Lead Detective who solved a cold-blooded double homicide of a brother and sister—in which the sister was pregnant.

In 2012, the lawyer of Matthew Scheidt, the Florida teenager who was arrested for impersonating a Physician’s Assistant in a hospital, blamed the hospital staff for putting Matthew Scheidt into their computer system as a Physician’s Assistant and then providing him with an identification badge identifying him as a Physician’s Assistant. Matthew Scheidt was a medical clerk not a Physician’s Assistant. However, Matthew Scheidt took advantage of the hospital’s mistake and began examining patients in the Emergency Room. When Matthew Scheidt was arrested for impersonating a Physician’s Assistant, the hospital admitted that they’d made a mistake.

Mr. Don Odham was allowed to identify himself as “Detective” Don Odham on Leon County Sheriff’s Incident reports, court documents and other legal documents. For whatever reason, other Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies referred to Mr. Odham as “Detective” in their reports and in their testimonies. Instead of Second Circuit State Attorney Willie Meggs, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son, Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell and others admitting that they falsified court document and made mistakes, including the mistake of wrongfully charging 17-year-old DeShon Thomas, they recruited judges, private lawyers, the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel’s lawyers, Nancy Daniels with the Office of the Public Defender, other Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies, Dr. Anthony Clark (medical examiner), and a convicted felon, to help them contain their mess. This team of misrepresentatives of humanity, were so sloppy, so corrupt in their actions that Second Circuit State Attorney Willie Meggs and Assistant State Attoney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell refused to release the victims’ autopsy reports and other vital evidence that could’ve exonerated DeShon. And DeShon’s court appointed Regional Counsel was so on-board to carry out their role in this corruption—that despite Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies making up the majority of the state’s witness list, no depositions of Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies were taken—including that of Mr. Don Odham.

Darrielle Copeland and DeShon Thomas were young Black students who were looking forward to bright futures. Today, Darrielle family grieves their lost and DeShon’s family… has relocated near their hometown in Central Florida. DeShon is INNOCENT!!!

Both Darrielle’s mother and DeShon’s mother reached out to Governor Rick Scott to seek assistance with obtaining Justice for their children—to no avail. Governor Rick Scott, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and other authorities in Tallahassee, have chosen to allow a woman to once again drive recklessly with the possibility of taking another life, as well as—allow a cold-blooded murderer to remain on the streets of Tallahassee with the possibility of murdering again.

The citizens of Tallahassee are clearly victims of Institutionalized Corruption.

 

Recently, Governor Rick Scott attended a fundraiser at GEO Group, Chief Executive Officer, George Zoley’s residence for a $10,000 a plate dinner, followed by a $3,000 per person reception. The GEO Group operates several private prisons in Florida. It’s been reported that The GEO Group donated money to Governor Scott’s re-election campaign and Florida’s Republican Party.

Between December 2011 and October 2013, the mother of 17-year-old DeShon Rashard Thomas begged Governor Rick Scott and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to assign a Special Prosecutor to her son’s criminal case in Leon County (Tallahassee, Florida). To no avail.

During the mid-morning hours on January 27, 2011, the Leon County Sheriff Office began investigating the double murder of a sister and brother at a residential townhouse located just blocks away from the sheriff’s office. According to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Discovery Report, within hours of the start of the double homicide investigation, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office obtained a Court Order for DeShon’s AT&T cell phone records outlining that they had information about DeShon being involved in drug activity. Also, the Court Order granted AT&T to GPS Track DeShon’s movements via his cell phone.

Later that night, when Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies initiated a traffic stop on an SUV, in which DeShon was a backseat passenger, deputies questioned DeShon about the murders. When DeShon told them that he had no information about the murders, another deputy took pictures of his shoes. DeShon was not arrested for anything.

DeShon Thomas, who was in his 3^rd semester of his freshman year at Tallahassee Community College, had been working at Taco Bell for nearly a year. DeShon and the 20-year-old female victim had ended their six weeks relationship just three months prior to the murders. Both the female victim and DeShon had entered into other relationships but remained friends, seeing as though the female victim had told DeShon that he was the father of her unborn baby.

During the early evening hours, on January 28, 2011, DeShon informed his mother about the murders. (DeShon’s mother had been out of town.) DeShon informed his mother that he and the female victim had been exchanging text messages the night of January 26, 2011. DeShon was concerned about the female victim and his unborn baby because he had read several posts on Facebook threatening to kill the female victim over money that she owed to a woman and the woman’s mother. In the text message exchange, the female victim told DeShon that the woman was mad at her because she was not going to pay the money. DeShon, who was nineteen miles away at work during the text message exchange, got off from work and did not go over to the victims’ residence. (DeShon did not have a car.) A co-worker dropped DeShon off at another co-worker’s apartment, where DeShon had been staying. DeShon fell asleep on the co-worker’s couch.

DeShon further informed his mother that he believed that he was under police surveillance due to the fact that he and his associates, including his cousin, had been stopped by Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies the night before (as mentioned above).

DeShon and his mother went to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and asked to speak with a detective investigating the double homicide in the Wolf Creek Subdivision. DeShon and his mother were met in the lobby by Detective Don Odham and two other men. Detective Don Odham was very racist. Detective Don Odham refused to allow DeShon’s mother to accompany him while he (DeShon) provided a statement. And then when DeShon’s mother invoked DeShon’s Miranda Rights, she was ignored and DeShon was taken away and interrogated without legal counsel. Later that same evening, DeShon’s mother and Detective Don Odham had a heated exchange of words. Detective Don Odham kicked DeShon’s mother out of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and refused to allow DeShon to leave. DeShon and his mother had been at the sheriff’s office for over five hours.

Ten days later, Detective Don Odham prepared a Summary of Offense and Probable Cause Affidavit for Two Counts of 1^st Degree Murder. Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell received the go ahead from his boss, 2^nd Circuit State Attorney Willie Meggs, to get a judge to approve the Affidavit for the Two Counts of 1^st Degree Murder. Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell obtained approval of the Affidavit for Two Counts of 1^st Degree Murder from Leon County Judge Nina Ashenafi-Richardson. Judge Richardson also issued an Arrest Warrant for DeShon. On February 7, 2011, it was announced that 17-year-old DeShon Thomas was charged with Two Counts of 1^st Degree Murder.

Almost every event after that seemed to be business as usual for the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the 2^nd Circuit State Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, some of Leon County Judges and Circuit Judges, the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, the District Two Medical Examiner’s Office, as well as Tallahassee Criminal Defense Attorney Greg Cummings.

When DeShon’s mother learned that Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell were father and son, she knew that she had to pay very close attention to DeShon’s case. Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell was assigned to prosecute DeShon’s case. DeShon’s mother could not believe that a father and son could lead both the investigation and the prosecution of criminal cases, let alone a double homicide case.

DeShon is Innocent! DeShon entered Not Guilty Pleas on all charges. There was no physical, material or circumstantial evidence against DeShon. First, State Prosecutor Jack Campbell said that DeShon killed the female victim because DeShon didn’t want to pay Child Support. Then when that didn’t pan out, State Prosecutor Jack Campbell stated that DeShon killed the male victim because of gang activity. Then it was both reasons—when all the while State Prosecutor Jack Campbell and Detective Don Odham concocted with DeShon’s co-worker/ roommate, 21-year-old Trentin Ross, to give incriminating statements about DeShon.

Turns out, Detective Don Odham was NEVER a Leon County Sheriff’s Detective. Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son, State Prosecutor Jack Campbell, and 2^nd Circuit State Attorney Willie Meggs filed several court documents containing false information, including the Summary of Offense and Probable Cause Affidavit for Two Counts of 1^st Degree Murder prepared by Detective Don Odham, which led to DeShon being arrested and charged with the double homicide.

Don Odham was a volunteer Reserve Deputy with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. It is believed that Don Odham had been paying Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and the Sheriff’s Command Staff to have the title and perform the duties of that as a detective. Don Odham is a wealthy, close personal friend of both Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son, State Prosecutor Jack Campbell. When the lead detective and team of detectives on the double homicide case could not find sufficient probable cause to have DeShon charged with the murders, it is believed that “Detective” Don Odham saw his opportunity to get revenge against DeShon’s mother for their heated exchange of words—so therefore, “Detective” Don Odham who had the protection of the Campbell Family both in and out of the courtroom, was willing to do and say anything against a kid.

After DeShon had been in the Leon County Jail for over a year and a half, DeShon and his mother had to fire DeShon’s private-paid attorney, Greg Cummings. DeShon’s mother, a single mother of four, including a child with special needs, had paid Mr. Cummings nearly $30,000 of her own money. Mr. Cummings never provided DeShon with any information regarding the victims’ autopsies—which were kept confidential. Neither did Mr. Cummings UnSeal DeShon’s AT&T cell phone records, which had been Sealed by Court Order per the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Cummings did absolutely nothing to build a defense his 17-year-old client, DeShon.

DeShon’s case defaulted back to Judge James C. Hankinson to appoint counsel. That’s when it was learned that for over a year—from the start—Circuit Judge Hankinson had also been violating DeShon’s Constitutional Rights. After another letter to Governor Scott begging for a special prosecutor, as well as outlining how Circuit Judge Hankinson had been violating DeShon’s Constitutional Rights, Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford began presiding over DeShon’s case process. Six months later, October 2013, nearly three years later, DeShon was in trial.

There was so much Perjury committed during DeShon’s trial, that had DeShon’s court appointed attorney of six months, Regional Counsel Daren Shippy, had been seeking a victory, he could’ve impeached the majority of State Prosecutor Jack Campbell’s witnesses—including some of Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies.

All the way leading up to DeShon’s trial, DeShon’s mother was begging Governor Rick Scott to assign a Special Prosecutor to her son’s case. It was so obvious that State Prosecutor Jack Campbell was using all of his resources to keep vital information from DeShon and the Public. It is believed by DeShon, DeShon’s mother and several taxpayers that both Governor Rick Scott and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi allowed DeShon to get railroaded into a Florida State Prison because they knew that they were going to profit from an INNOCENT Black boy being convicted for a double homicide.

Now that Governor Rick Scott and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has proven that they can sit back and watch Florida’s Judicial System operate as if it’s a family business—all Floridians need to be on HIGH ALERT!

Another unbelievable part about it all is when DeShon’s mother went to the FBI Office in Jacksonville, Florida, the security guard refused to allow her past the guard outpost. And when an FBI agent was called to the guard post, the FBI agent refused to allow DeShon’s mother to file a complaint—or make a record that she’d come to their Jacksonville office to file a complaint. (The FBI Office in Jacksonville oversees the Tallahassee region.) The FBI office in Jacksonville has a long standing relationship with Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell.

HIGH ALERT! While we, Florida parents are working hard to provide for our families, Governor Rick Scott and others are plotting and scheming to SELL OUR KIDS!

FYI–No matter the age of your child, once your child is charged as an adult—all parental rights are stripped away. The same day that attorney Greg Cummings filed his Motion to Withdraw after being fired off of DeShon’s case, Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson signed an arrest warrant for DeShon to be charged with Solicitation to Commit 1^st Degree Murder. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office put DeShon in solitary confinement where DeShon was not allowed to call home or have visitors. This only happened because DeShon’s mother had been informing DeShon of the corruption that had been going on in his case. When DeShon’s mother stopped paying Mr. Cummings and insisted that DeShon fire him that put a monkey wrench into Mr. Cummings role in regards to their corrupt plotting and scheme.

The worst part about this all—is that there’s a cold-blooded murderer on the prowl—and elected officials, who are supposed to protect the community—are aware of it.

Tell Governor Rick Scott to Clog Florida’s School to Prison Pipeline and that Your Family Is Not For Sale!