Month: November 2014

The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission and The Florida Bar—Note To All Parents of Future Lawyers and Floridians: Florida Courtrooms Are No Place for Christians—but Plenty of Space for Devils

Tallahassee, FL—The Judicial Qualifications Commission whose panel consists of fifteen people—two district court of appeal judges who are chosen by all the judges of the fifth district court. Two circuit judges chosen by all the judges of the twenty judicial circuits. Two county court judges, chosen by judges of sixty-seven county courts. Four registered voters who are lawyers, chosen by the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar. Lastly, five must be non-lawyers who are registered voters, chosen by the Governor. (All in all—you have the fox guarding the hen house.)

It’s no secret to the nation and to the world that Florida is being run by a governor who engages in criminal activities. History has taught us that whenever there are criminals in office, people around them (other officials) are encouraged to act as criminals. The re-election of Governor Rick Scott only underscores that money can get people whatever they want in Florida. After all, it was the media who reported that a flight school in Florida was where a group of Middle Eastern guys walked in with a suitcase full of money and in broken English asked to be taught how to fly a plane minus the landing procedures. Well, we all know the outcome of that situation. Lately, there have been reports of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi looking out for corporate interests over Floridians—with gifts and luxury trips in the range of $51,000. Fifty-one thousand dollars—clearly, more than that was spent on her education—so why she has chosen to sell Floridians out to corporations is truly sad. Oh, yes, Floridians know that corporate money played a huge role in her re-election too.

Just recently, in October 2014, the Judicial Qualifications Commission found that Second Circuit Judge Judith Hawkins, an African-American woman, committed violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Certain reports stated, in part, that one of the violations had to do with Circuit Judge Hawkins promoting and selling Christian ministry products to lawyers and employees in the courthouse. Immediately after violating Circuit Judge Hawkins, the Judicial Qualifications Commission recommended to the Florida Supreme Court that she be disciplined or be removed from the bench. Shortly thereafter, the Florida Supreme Court removed Circuit Judge Hawkins from the bench.

In another case brought before the same Judicial Qualifications Commission in regards to three Second Circuit Court Judges and one Leon County Judge, the Judicial Qualifications Commission failed to hold any of the all White American judges accountable for their violations. The court case, State of Florida vs. DeShon Thomas was plagued by corrupt acts in which all of the judges played a significant role. On each level, had the judges acted ethically, 17-year-old DeShon Thomas would have never had any charges brought against him.

DeShon, who was a 17-year-old freshman at Tallahassee Community College and employee at a local fast-food restaurant, was a quick pick for the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to charge and arrest for several crimes, including double murder. But when a team of Leon County Sheriff’s Detectives could not link DeShon to any of the crimes, including the murders, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son, Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell, along with Second District State Attorney Willie Meggs—filed Probable Cause with the Leon County Clerk of Court naming Leon County Sheriff’s Detective, Don Odham, as having processed evidence at the crime scene and having directly received incriminating statements about DeShon.

The process to get DeShon to trial was plagued with corruption. DeShon had five attorneys (one private & four court appointed). DeShon and his mother fired his private attorney, Greg Cummings, who had been paid nearly $30,000 for misconduct. The Florida Bar received complaint against Greg Cummings and three other attorneys who work for State Attorney Willie Meggs. The Florida Bar has chosen to protect all of the attorneys involved.

Approximately, nine months after DeShon fired Mr. Cummings, DeShon’s mother called Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson out to Governor Rick Scott for violating several of DeShon’s U.S. Constitutional Rights from the time DeShon had first been charged with the murders. Circuit Judge Hankinson was immediately replaced by Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford. Circuit Judge Hankinson had been presiding over DeShon’s case for over two years before he was replaced. In part, DeShon’s mother believes that Circuit Judge Hankinson directly conspired with Mr. Greg Cummings and Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell in an attempt to railroad DeShon into Florida’s Prison System.

Both Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson and Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford worked for State Attorney Willie Meggs prior to becoming elected/appointed to their judgeship. Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford came onto DeShon’s case and allowed more of the same corruption. She allowed Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell to tell her what needed to be done and when it needed to be done right there in her courtroom. Despite several pleas from DeShon’s mother to Governor Rick Scott and others to assign a Special Prosecutor to DeShon’s case—they all refused. Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell could not have gotten a conviction without using all of his state and personal resources to convict DeShon. Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell’s prosecution of DeShon was a full blown—all out—reach in order to protect his dad, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, who had jurisdiction over the investigation, for allowing their family friend, Don Odham, to act as a Leon County Sheriff’s Detective. Don Odham was not a paid employee of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. In fact, Don Odham did not have the credentials to be a detective. None of DeShon’s attorney deposed or made it known that Don Odham was never an employee of Sheriff Larry Campbell and should have never been allowed to search the crime scene or have any role as a detective in such a serious investigation. But once again, money prevailed. Don Odham was said to be a wealthy, close personal friend of the Campbell family. And his wealth played a role in the murder charges and conviction of DeShon.

In October 2013, during DeShon’s trial, Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford allowed Don Odham to testify, in which Don Odham was being addressed as Detective Odham, in front of the jury. Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford allowing Don Odham to testify as a Leon County Sheriff’s Detective with her knowledge of Don Odham never having been a Leon County Sheriff Detective is equivalent to a child molester claiming to be a neighborhood doctor—undressing and touching little kids whose only complaint is that of a headache.

DeShon’s court appointed attorney, Regional Counsel Daren Shippy, failed to address witnesses that he knew were committing perjury. Before, during and after DeShon’s trial, it was clear that the State of Florida and the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, along with the two circuit judges and The Florida Bar were not upholding the U.S. State Constitution. Seventeen year-old DeShon was denied due process under the law.

The Judicial Qualifications Commission, who states, “Other government authorities may deprive you of your rights, rightly or wrongly, but only a judge can deny you of your rights”, kicked the can when it came to the exposure of the Devils in the courtroom.

A cold-blooded murderer has been intentionally left out in the community. Both the Florida Bar and the Judicial Qualifications Commission have proven that they have their own agendas. And like Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi, they don’t include the best interest of Floridians. With the latest ruling by the Florida Supreme Court to remove Circuit Judge Judith Hawkins from the bench by recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission—well, it shows that Florida’s Courtrooms are no place for Christians—but has plenty of space for Devils.

DeShon is INNOCENT!

Who Is Protecting College Kids in Tallahassee? Leon County Sheriff’s Office Failed To Inform Tallahassee Community College Police and Florida State University Police in Regards to Double Murder Suspect Possibly On Campuses

Tallahassee, FL—For over a year now it’s been reported that Tallahassee Police hindered the female Florida State University student who accused Jamies Winston of sexually assaulting her. According to reports, University Administrators, and Winston’s attorney received the police report days before State Attorney Willie Meggs. In which, State Attorney Willie Meggs, whose main office is located in the Leon County Courthouse (just three blocks away from both the Tallahassee Police Department and Florida State University), has the responsibilities for following up and possibly prosecuting serious crimes committed in six counties, with Tallahassee being the most populated. The Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and State Attorney Willie Meggs’ Office seem to have a pattern of hindering cases from being investigated thoroughly and moving through the judicial system properly.

On Thursday, January 27, 2011, during the mid-morning hours, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence located within a mile of both Tallahassee Community College and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The residence was the crime scene of a double murder—the victims had been shot in the head two times each. The victims were twenty-year-old, Laqecia Herring and her 17-year-old brother, Sterling Conner Jr. Upon learning that Ms. Herring was five months pregnant and the father of Ms. Herring unborn baby was 17-year-old, DeShon Thomas, Leon County Sheriff’s Detectives began wickedly investigating him. Immediately, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office was aware that DeShon was a full-time freshman at Tallahassee Community College and an employee at a local fast-food restaurant. DeShon’s older brother was a senior at Florida State University.

According to the discovery report created by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, within hours of Leon County Sheriff’s detectives having begun investigating the double murder, Leon County Sheriff’s detectives obtained a court order to have AT&T (DeShon’s cell phone provider) track DeShon’s cell phone via the GPS in his cell phone. Also, Leon County Sheriff’s detectives received DeShon’s cell phone records. After reviewing DeShon’s cell phone records, Leon County Sheriff’s detectives obtained a court order to have DeShon’s cell phone records Sealed. As for the GPS tracking, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office requested for AT&T to inform a Leon County Sheriff’s criminal analyst and a City of Tallahassee police officer of DeShon’s movements in fifteen minute intervals. Neither Tallahassee Community College Police Department nor Florida State University Police Department was informed in regards to DeShon.

The next day, on January 28, 2011, DeShon informed his mother about an incident that occurred off of campus with Leon County Sheriff detectives (he believed that he was being followed by the police–Leon County Sheriff’s detectives). Immediately, DeShon’s mother chose to take him to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to find out why they were following him and to provide a statement. According to the discovery report created by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, within an hour of DeShon and his mother arriving at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, a Leon County criminal analyst contacted AT&T to request that they (AT&T) Discontinue GPS tracking DeShon’s cell phone. At the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, DeShon and his mother were met with racist vulgar and soon found themselves locked in an interview room—being held against their will. DeShon was not charged with the murders or anything in relation to the murders during that encounter with Leon County Sheriff’s detectives.

It’s a possibility that over the years, with the absence of a steady Chief of Police at the Tallahassee Police Department, individual police officers may have taken it upon themselves as to how to handle criminal investigations. It is obvious that the longevity of years that Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell has spent in local law enforcement (50+), in addition to his son, Jack Campbell, being an Assistant State Attorney—that their father/son relationship have allowed them to be comfortable with picking and choosing what other police agencies get informed about what student and what criminal investigation—which has proven to be hazardous for both the defendant and the victim—and the community.

Four days into the double murder investigation, DeShon was charged as an adult with Cultivation of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (not double murder). And then four days later, while DeShon was in the Leon County Jail awaiting compliance with GPS home monitoring, DeShon was charged with Two Counts of 1st Degree Murder.

State Attorney Willie Meggs assigned Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell’s son as prosecutor. DeShon’s case process was plagued with corruption. Favorable evidence such as DeShon’s AT&T cell phone records and both victims’ autopsy reports were withheld from DeShon and public records. Nearly three years later—after having two Circuit Judges, four unethical attorneys (at different times including 1 private attorney), in addition to a slew of perjured testimonies—DeShon was convicted of Two Counts of 1st Degree Murder, Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile Delinquent, and Solicitation to Commit 1st Degree Murder. None of the detectives or the key witness on the case was ever deposed.

The failure of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to inform Tallahassee Community College and Florida State University about DeShon being a suspect in a double murder says one of two things. One, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office knew that DeShon wasn’t the murderer. Two, the longevity of Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell’s law enforcement roots in the community has given him and his detectives a sense that they can pick and choose what law enforcement agencies they want to wheel and deal with—regardless of their responsibility to work with all law enforcement agencies in order to protect the community—to “Protect College Kids”.

Sheriff Larry Campbell allowed his friend, Don Odham, to assume the position of a Leon County Sheriff’s detective, despite not being on the payroll or having the credentials to be a detective. This type of absurdity is a prime example of the ignorance and egos that hinders criminal cases from being processed through the judicial system properly. How many college kids are going to fall victim to law enforcement officials and State Attorney Willie Meggs—chuckling to the media about being clueless about crimes having been committed while kids are hurting?

 

Tallahassee: Florida’s Capital City, The Nation’s First City To Acknowledge Exploitation of Its Citizens Tax Dollars via the Ballot Box

Tallahassee, FL—On November 4, 2014, Florida Governor Rick Scott was re-elected as Governor, and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was re-elected as Attorney General. Both re-elections only underscore what the Democratic base is screaming across the nation about the role money plays in politics. Floridians aren’t dancing in the streets because of Rick Scott’s re-election. It’s been reported that Rick Scott stated that he would not spend any of his own money to contribute to his campaign. And then in the last two weeks, Rick Scott forked over millions and millions of dollars because he was falling behind in the polls. After being re-elected, Rick Scott was mocked on a social media website for having forked over millions of dollars to be re-elected for a job that pays about $120,000 per year. (How many times could Rick Scott have paid himself with his own money? Do the math.)

Classic—American Greed! Money Over Smarts: The Downfall of Florida

Also, on November 4, 2014, the citizens of Tallahassee voted in favor of a City Ethics amendment. It’s been reported that this “City Ethics” amendment is the nation’s first anti-corruption measures at the city level. It’s been reported that the amendment passed with an “Overwhelmingly–Wide” favorable vote.

Is anyone surprised by the passing of this amendment?

Second Circuit State Attorney Willie Meggs, whose office is located inside of the Leon County Courthouse in downtown Tallahassee, has been the State Attorney for about thirty years or so. In the publics view, Willie Meggs, who is a native of Tallahassee, has a long track record of being hard-core on criminals. But behind the scenes, Willie Meggs is described by many in law enforcement and citizens as being “Off-the-Rocker”. Many people in local law enforcement fear him. Several judges worked directly for him as Assistant State Attorneys, so instead of risking the backlash for attempting to “de-throne” him, they were promoted to judgeship.

Over the past decade, Willie Meggs has assigned mostly all high profile criminal cases being investigated by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, to Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell to prosecute. Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell is the son of Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell. According to Jack Campbell’s profile, he is a native of Tallahassee, graduated from Leon High school in 1991, attended Samford University, Cumberland School of Law and was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2002. At which time, he began working for Willie Meggs. (Two of Willie Meggs’ children are employed at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office as Sheriff Campbell’s deputies.)

Tallahassee’s “Power Families”—one who brings the charge against citizens and the other who ensures the charge sticks—or in some cases publicly humiliate the citizens. And let’s not forget those judges who must show their gratitude for “ALL” that Willie Meggs has contributed to their success.

It’s been reported that the citizens of Tallahassee are tired of the corrupting influence of money in politics… The amendment that they voted in favor of will create an Ethics Advisory Panel (a seven member ethics board) with the power to investigate ethics complaints and levy civil penalties. While some citizens of Tallahassee may feel a sense of relief—the truth of the matter is that the amendment in a whole is unnecessary. It’s just another way of pacifying those in local government who are leading and feeding the corruption and hindering those who are in government or likewise, whose job it is to enforce policies against government officials who are unethical.

Nearly every level of government agency has a committee geared to handle ethic complaints against its employees. The Florida Bar governs licensed attorneys. The Judicial Qualifications Committee governs Judges. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement governs elected officials and other government officials. The Florida Department of Health governs all doctors and healthcare workers. Every state in America has a governor, a state attorney general, an inspector general, a surgeon general and a Department of Justice. There’s the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the state level, and when all else fails, there’s the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the Federal level. All of these government agencies are funded by tax dollars. It is their responsibility to ethically perform the job that they’re being paid to do by tax payers. In part, they are responsible for governing. At any time when they feel like they are unable to perform their job ethically—then they should resign or be fired. Nobody can deny relationships/ friendships between people working in government. But that relationships/ friendships are of a personal nature, to which government employees, regardless of their capacity, should not allow their personal life to have any influence on their job.

Imagine what would happen if a few people working for the Department of Children and Families began approving applications for public assistance for all of their family and friends, regardless of need. In recent years, a number of Department of Children and Families employees have been charged, arrested, and fired for possessing child pornography and/or acts of molesting children in state care. At what point did the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have to assemble a panel of seven of its employees together to decide if pictures of naked kids were in fact pictures of naked kids? At what point did the director of the Department of Children and Families have to assemble a panel of seven of its employees in order to decide whether or not to fire employees who hurt children? At every level of a government employee’s job, decisions made by that employee should be based on government policies and laws—not personal feelings. Decisions made should be based on what’s best for the community—the citizens—the tax payers—after all, that’s the way the laws are written. Again, when government employees struggle with this basic concept and can no longer conduct their jobs in an ethical manner—then they should no longer be allowed to accept money from tax payers in the form of a paycheck. Not only is it hypocritical—it’s unethical.

Many successful entrepreneurs in the private sector have admitted to having hired family members and friends to work for them, and then had to turn around and ask them to resign—and in some cases—had to terminate them—because they were bad for their business. So why should tax payers be burdened with government employees—whether they’re elected, hired off of the streets, or appointed—who are bad for their communities.

State Attorney Willie Meggs has been in office for nearly thirty years. Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, has been sheriff for nearly 20 years—prior to that he was Leon County’s Undersheriff—prior to that he worked for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement—in addition to that–in the 1970’s he attended the FBI academy and he maintains close relations with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in both Tallahassee and Jacksonville. Sheriff Campbell has nearly fifty years or more experience in law enforcement—mainly (if not all) positioned there in Tallahassee. There’s no doubt that State Attorney Willie Meggs and Sheriff Larry Campbell have deep roots in Tallahassee’s judicial make-up and its proceedings. State Attorney Willie Meggs’ former Assistant State Attorneys have become judges in his circuit. Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell’s former employees have retired and gone on to collect nearly $500,000 in retirement. The view of State Attorney Willie Meggs and Sheriff Larry Campbell from those working for them—may be no different from the view of a kid living in the inner-city who admires the flash and power of the heroin dealer who no longer has to stand on the street corner to sell heroin—but uses others to do his dirty work.

Tallahassee (Leon County) is the only major city/county of the six counties that make up Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit. Tallahassee has a population of 186,411 people in 103.1 square miles (267 km2). There are 60,100 people working in government jobs (possibly more)—this number includes law enforcement officers. There are seven different law enforcement agencies in Tallahassee. Nearly every defense attorney practicing law in Tallahassee relies on criminal cases to be appointed to them by the Leon County Clerk of Court whenever there’s a conflict with the Public Defender’s Office in providing legal representation to defendants. In most cases, the private attorneys are paid about $3,500 for each defendant that they represent. While $3,500 may not seem like much money, when private attorneys are repeatedly assigned cases, the money is guaranteed to come because the money is paid out by tax payers. Whereas, a private attorney representing a private client may not get paid in full right away or may not get paid in full at all.  While assigning these case are the job of that of the clerk, Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell and Public Defender leader Nancy Daniels, both have admitted to having told judges which criminal defense attorneys to appoint to certain cases—and the judges failed to allow the clerk to do his/her job accordingly.

Second Circuit State Attorney Willie Meggs, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, his son, Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell, along with others have fooled themselves into believing that they have “ALL OF THE POWER” in Tallahassee.

On November 4, 2014, Tallahassee citizens made history by voting in favor of the amendment—who is celebrating? Surely not the government officials who have worked hard to build up their career—and now, by association, have fallen to “co-corruptor” because of those who put selfishness and greed over ethics. Who is celebrating? Surely not those who have fallen victim to corrupt government officials and corrupt government employees. So, who is celebrating?

Going forward, the Ethics Advisory Panel may comfort the majority of Tallahassee citizens, but in order to truly show respect for those who wrote the United States Constitution—and to show respect for those who amended the United State Constitution to benefit ALL OF US—and to truly show respect for Blacks and Whites who gave their lives on U.S. soil and in other countries for ALL OF US to have FREEDOM—and to truly inspire young people to stand up for their rights—those who currently hold positions to govern ethics complaints  need to do their jobs and rid Tallahassee’s current corrupt government officials and government employees. Tallahassee citizens should not allow corrupt government officials and government employees to go on exploiting their tax dollars.