Tallahassee, FL—In 2011, nearly ten months after seventeen-year-old, DeShon Thomas, was charged with Two Counts of 1st Degree Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile Delinquent, the mother of DeShon Thomas contacted Florida Governor Rick Scott’s Office in regards to what she believed was disturbing issues of her son’s judicial process. The double murders were being investigated by Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell. State Attorney Willie Meggs had overlooked forty plus of his other Assistant State Attorneys and assigned his Assistant State Attorney, Jack Campbell, to prosecute DeShon’s case. Jack Campbell is the son of Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell. Another disturbing issue, DeShon’s private defense attorney, Greg Cummings, whom DeShon’s mother was paying thousands of dollars, had not provided the victims autopsy reports or conducted any depositions on record. These issues and others were definitely hindering DeShon’s case from proceeding through the court. DeShon, who pleaded NOT GUILTY, was sitting in the Leon County Jail awaiting his day in court, with absolutely nothing occurring with his case. In part, DeShon’s mother was seeking a special prosecutor to prosecute the case. With State Attorney Willie Meggs’ son, Wiley Meggs, working as Leon County Sheriff’s Sergeant, maybe State Attorney Willie Meggs was having some issues going after his son’s boss. And commonsense should tell a person that a son should not be prosecuting cases that his dad, an elected official, is directly involved (Sheriff Campbell and Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell (really)). In response to DeShon’s mother contacting Governor Scott, DeShon’s mother was told that he (Governor Scott) could not get involved with ongoing criminal investigations.
Meanwhile, DeShon’s mother continued paying money to Greg Cummings. Also, DeShon’s mother began reaching out to several people seeking advice in what a “blind man” could see were some serious issues with DeShon’s case process. One of the people who DeShon’s mother contacted was Mr. Sandy D’Alemberte, former president of Florida State University and former president of the American Bar Association. Mr. D’Alemberte has extensive knowledge of Civil Rights. In 2012, Mr. D’Alemberte, along with the Florida Innocence Project, was present when Governor Rick Scott apologized to wrongfully convicted William Dillon for the 27 years he spent in prison for a crime he did not commit. (Article by Aaron Deslatte, Tallahassee Bureau Chief titled, “Scott apologizes, signs bill giving William Dillon $1.35M”
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-dillon-claims-bill-passes-20120301-story.html )
At first, the communication exchange between Mr. D’Alemberte and DeShon’s mother was great! Mr. D’Alemberte was eager to review court documents. After DeShon’s mother sent him documents that she’d obtained from the Leon County Courthouse, it was clear that Mr. D’Alemberte was floored by documents that he’d reviewed. Mr. D’Alemberte truly believed that there had to be something missing from the court documents, something had to be missing. DeShon’s case was nearly two years old and there was nothing more than a court docket and few pages. Mr. D’Alemberte contacted his resources. There were a few other exchanges in communication –and then nothing. The communication between Mr. D’Alemberte and DeShon’s mother was left open end.
In mid-2013, DeShon’s mother contacted Governor Scott again. After having fired Greg Cummings as DeShon’s attorney and then reviewing DeShon’s court records, DeShon’s mother began to realize that there was more than just State Prosecutor Jack Campbell and Greg Cummings being sinister in their actions. DeShon’s mother began looking at the judge. By all means, a part of Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson’s job was to ensure that DeShon’s Constitutional Rights were not being violated. As DeShon’s mother looked closer at DeShon’s case, it was clear that Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson had been violating DeShon’s Constitutional Rights. In her letter to Governor Scott, DeShon’s mother explained to Governor Scott that she strongly believed that Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson had purposely withheld court documents from the Leon County Clerk of Courts (public records) and that he (Hankinson) had been conducting case events on DeShon’s case outside of DeShon’s presence—without DeShon’s knowledge. Immediately following DeShon’s mother’s letter to Governor Scott, the next action on DeShon’s case was a new presiding judge. Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson was replaced with Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford. (At a later date, a copy of the letter that was sent to Governor Scott was posted to this blog site.)
Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford, a former Assistant State Attorney for Willie Meggs, did not make the case process any better. Listening to Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell’s instructions, she also violated DeShon’s Constitutional Rights. On October 18, 2013, DeShon was convicted. In December 2013, DeShon was sentenced to Two Life Sentences plus 30 years. (Currently, Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford is off of the bench as she is being investigated by the Judicial Qualifications Commission for three counts of misconduct—including violation (s) that occurred prior to her replacing Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson.)
In retaliation for the August 2012 firing of Greg Cummings, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and State Attorney Willie Meggs charged DeShon with Solicitation to Commit 1st Degree Murder. Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson approved a Summary of Offense for Solicitation to Commit 1st Degree Murder against Trentin Ross that had been prepared by State Attorney Investigator Jason Newlin. DeShon, who was still in the Leon County Jail, was put in solitary confinement and had all of his privileges taken away. Unable to have visitors or call home, DeShon was not able to make arrangements with his mother for another private attorney. DeShon was assigned several court appointed attorneys, whom all immediately filed Motions to Withdraw. DeShon’s case finally settled with Jeff Lewis’ office—1st Regional Counsel.
In the Summary of Offense for Solicitation to Commit 1st Degree Murder, State Attorney Investigator Jason Newlin named Dawuan Williams and Walter Cole Rayborn as the Leon County Jail inmates who had direct information about DeShon having plotted to have State Prosecutor Jack Campbell’s key witness in the double murder case, Trentin Ross, murdered. Dawuan Williams, a twice convicted felon, had been delivered to the Leon County Jail by the Southeast Regional Task Force and the Tifton County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia, on two warrants in Tallahassee for robbing two banks. Shortly thereafter, Dawuan Williams was introduced to DeShon. Dawuan Williams was immediately provided with his freedom and money from the Leon County Sheriff and State Attorney’s Office. After Dawuan Williams followed instruction by both the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office, Dawuan Williams disappeared into society. In less than six months of being released from the Leon County Jail, Dawuan Williams was arrested in a neighboring county for Armed Home Invasion Robbery with Kidnapping and other charges. Dawuan Williams is currently facing more than fifty years in prison.
Upon Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford presiding over DeShon’s case, Judge Fulford did not disclose to the court that she is a close family friend of Walter Cole Rayborn’s family. Walter Cole Rayborn, a convicted felon with a lengthy arrest record, was recently named in the execution style double murder of two young men in Tallahassee. The victims, Cornelius Poole and Lance Love, where found in a bathtub—they’d been bound and shot in the head. They there was an attempt to set the apartment (Lance’s) on fire. Walter Cole Rayborn’s court documents show that he was constantly given special treatment by the court and the Leon County Sheriff’s office in spite of the seriousness of his offenses.
Did Governor Scott “meddle” in the double murder case against 17-year-old, DeShon Thomas? If so, it would not be the first time Governor Scott has been accused of meddling. Could it be that State Attorney Willie Meggs’ refusal to investigate Governor Scott in regards to FDLE Sunshine State Law violation, a case that Governor Scott has been accused of meddling, could it possibly be that in part of State Attorney Willie Meggs’ refusal to investigate Governor Scott is because of Governor Scott’s meddling in DeShon Thomas’ case? Surely it is not a coincidence that Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson was spontaneously replaced by Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford—just because. Governor Scott had the authority to put a special prosecutor on DeShon’s case—but would not. (Criminals Protecting Criminals in Tallahassee—leading to wrongly convicting children.)
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article8602808.html
Mothers Against Unethical Laws (MAUL) 