Mothers Against Unethical Laws (MAUL)

State of Florida vs. DeShon Thomas day 3 of Trial

Previously, Leon County Crime Scene Detective Fred Smelt demonstrated to the jury and those in the courtroom how –then 17-year-old DeShon Thomas—could’ve murdered 17-year-old Sterling Conner Jr., who was found lying on the livingroom floor with two pillows under his head and 20-year-old Laqecia Herring who was found slumped over in a chair less than five feet in front of him. Everybody seems to agree that both victims were caught completely off guard by their murderer. Crime Scene detectives didn’t seem to find signs of forced entry or signs of a struggle, therefore concluding that the victims must’ve known there murderer. Det. Fred Smelt’s demonstration of 17-year-old DeShon Thomas’ capability to get one round clean “kill shots” off to the head of both victims before either of them could re-act made Dirty Harry’s draw look slow. Det. Smelt stated that Thomas shot Conner Jr. through a blanket/comforter into the right side of his ear. This bullet hole matched up perfectly in line with the blanket/comforter when it was pulled back from his head. What wasn’t discussed was how Conner Jr. received the bullet straight to the back of his head. This bullet hole wasn’t mentioned in our copy of the Leon County Sheriff’s Discovery Report section for the Crime Scene Unit as far as what was located at the crime scene. However, it was mentioned the day after the murders—at the morgue.

On October 16, 2013 Dr. Anthony Clark was called to the stand. Dr. Clark testified that he received a call from Lt. Baxter about the murders and scheduled an autopsy for the next day (January 28, 2011). Dr. Clark also testified that he received education at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and that he’d performed over 200 autopsies. State Prosecutor Jack Campbell didn’t ask Dr. Clark to confirm what Det. Smelt demonstrated for the court the previous day. Dr. Clark testified that when he came in contact with Sterling Conner Jr.’s body, he in fact had abrasions on his hands. He confirmed that Laqecia Herring was pregnant and had received a gunshot to the top of her head. Dr. Clark testified that he could not determine a time of death. He testified that both victims were in slight rigor. Dr. Clark states that there was no way that both victims could’ve been murdered the night of January 26, 2011.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Agent, Jack Martin testified about DeShon Thomas’ DNA being located on the victims’ backdoor to their residence as being a mixed DNA (which means in part of others). Not only had DeShon Thomas previously visited the victims’ residence several times—at one point he lived with the victims. When DeShon Thomas lived with the victims, DeShon, as well as the victims, mainly used public transportation as their means of getting around. The backdoor to the residence opened up to Highway 20—the closest access to the main road. Mr. Martin also testified that DeShon Thomas and Trentin Ross’ DNA was the only DNA that he had to compare to what was located on the backdoor. Trentin Ross’ DNA was not found.

During Reserve Deputy Odham’s testimony—daytime shots of the crime scene and other locations were displayed. Of course one’s view places such as residences, streets, etc. in the daytime differ from what one’s view is at nighttime or during the early morning hours—so… Besides, folks already know his level of intelligence so…

Detective Melinda McBride was called to the stand—not much there. Don’t understand how she could stand to represent an agency that seemingly has no faith in her abilities. She did start to follow up on other leads but… Something is not right there.

Criminal Intelligence Analyst Leslie Rabon testified that DeShon Thomas’ cell phone could be tracked all over Tallahassee but not Trentin Ross cell phone. That’s not in dispute here… What would’ve been in dispute was if when State Prosecutor Jack Campbell asked her if she was familiar with the Taco Bell located on Capital Circle N.E. and she would’ve answered, “No!” Now that—would’ve been disputable! But like most of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office staff members do when they take the stand and are being questioned by State Prosecutor Jack Campbell—she beamed as she answered, “Oh, yes!” (duh!)

State Attorney Detective Jason Newlin confirmed the Spike the Bulldog and Chester the Terrier act between him and State Prosecutor Jack Campbell. That trip to Daytona Beach that they took to tell Trentin Ross about a hit on his life—one could only see the previous cartoon depiction to more like a Broke Back Mountain scene. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!)

On a serious note, Williams, the supposed “Hitman” is just another use of the State Attorney’s Office and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to find something that will secure DeShon Thomas behind bars. Both agencies assisted Williams by walking mail into the jail—coded letters—to give to DeShon Thomas. Ironically, Williams, who is a repeated felon, who was in jail for bank robbery, was able to make post a $15,000 bond the day after speaking to Det. Newlin. After Newlin tracked him down and brought him back to the sheriff’s office, their Det. Newlin allowed him to write a coded letter to DeShon Thomas. Williams, who had taught DeShon Thomas how to read and write the alphabet in code shortly after meeting him in jail, also taught Det. Newlin and others how to read and write in code. The State Attorney’s Office bought Williams a cell phone and put money on the phone because Williams was never home when DeShon Thomas would call him. All calls coming out of the Leon County Jail are recorded. The investigation of the DeShon Thomas soliciting Williams, a charge to which DeShon Thomas has plead not guilty—was less than 3 weeks time.

After Williams made bond and was given a cell phone by the State Attorney’s Office, he (Williams) continued to commit serious crimes. Thirty-one year –old Williams charges are Home Invasion Robbery, Kidnapping, Forgery and a slew of others. Williams and all of those who have chosen to be dishonest during this serious double murder and solicitation to commit murder trial are nothing but criminals from the breeding grounds of the Florida 2^nd District State Attorney Willie Meggs’ Office and the Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell’s Office.

He is a PREDATOR! He is a LIAR! And according to childmolestationprevention.org Florida State Prosecutor Jack Campbell has the characteristics of a CHILD MOLESTER! A CHILD MOLESTER!

That’s the son of Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell. Together Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, 2^nd District State Attorney Willie Meggs, State Prosecutor Jack Campbell and all of their underlings as a team are nothing but BULLIES! Even before the start of the trial it was obvious—when Leon County Sheriff’s deputies/detectives took to the stand to testify—they beam in Ahhh when being questioned by State Prosecutor Jack Campbell whenever he says to them, “You all work as a team, right? And as a team…” At the end of their testimony, the deputies step down from the stand and look at State Prosecutor Jack Campbell for his approval as a child would look at their mother after performing a piano recital—when the child mastered that “keynote” that no other child could master.

One could describe the relationship between the State Attorney’s Office Detective Jason Newlin and State Prosecutor Jack Campbell as being that of the animated cartoon characters Spike the Bulldog and Chester the Terrier. Clearly, clearly most of the male deputies/ detectives have had their manhood either stripped completely away—or severely tarnished! Although it has not been reported that State Prosecutor Jack Campbell has touched the defendant, DeShon Thomas, who has been in the Leon County Jail to which his father oversees since he was 17-years-old (now 20-years-old), Campbell’s demeanor in the courtroom is perverse.

In the case, State of Florida vs. Theodus Holloway, where Holloway, a 15-year-old Black boy was found guilty of raping a female classmate in a dug out, it was reported that during the trial Prosecutor Jack Campbell quoted the girl as to saying (after the boys raped her), “thanks for raping me,” a line that he must’ve presumably nailed considering that he got a conviction—a line that he, himself, may be all too familiar with…

FINALLY—it has been confirmed that former Detective Don Odham was nothing more than a ‘Do Boy’ for credited Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies. What’s disturbing is how in the Whole Wide-World did Official deputies (that’s spelled with a capital O) allow themselves to feel inferior to this “Wanna-be-Cop?” Nut case! Seriously, to take a lead detective position away from a credited (at one time anyway) detective and assign it to him—I mean it’s been long rumored that Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell was off of his “rocker” but… Unbelievable! Well, we see now why State Prosecutor Jack Campbell tried to make it seem like former Detective Don Odham was a fictitious character after Defense Attorney Gregory Cummings was fired by DeShon Thomas and his mother—all Odham had the legal right to do was go get donuts and pump gas in patrol cars. It was obvious on January 28, 2011 when former Detective Don Odham used such racist vulgar towards then 17-year-old DeShon Thomas and his mother that he wasn’t abreast of the laws—it was even more obvious when he refused to allow DeShon Thomas an attorney as his mother had invoked his Miranda Rights—and then (whew) it was clear that he must’ve had a few marbles missing when he deadbolt locked DeShon Thomas and his mother in a room when they were not under arrest.

To former Detective Don Odham’s defense—it’s not your fault. When you have money people act like they like you—even when they DON’T!

On Monday, October 14, 2013 jury selection in the State of Florida vs. DeShon Thomas began. When State Prosecutor Jack Campbell took to the podium to address the 50 potential jurors he opened up by saying, “No one can go back on January 26^th or 27^th …” (referring to the timeframe in which pregnant 20-year-old Laqecia Herring and her 17-year-old brother Sterling Conner Jr. were murdered). (At this point–for those who need to be guided—please go to this blogs archive 2012 see article titled, ‘Game Being Played By the Assistant State Attorney’s Office: Hide and Go Seek’ ).

Any experienced lead detective on a homicide case (let alone a double homicide case) will tell you that it is very important to secure a timeline of events leading up to the murder(s).

It is a proven fact that on January 26, 2011 17-year-old DeShon Thomas was at work (19 miles away from the crime scene). According to DeShon Thomas’ timesheet he clocked into work on January 26, 2011 at 1805 and he clocked out on January 27, 2011 at 1:30 a.m.

In the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Discovery Report it states that the last outgoing activity from the female victim’s cell phone was on January 26, 2011 at 10:59 p.m. What the Discovery Report does not state is when was the last incoming activity accepted of her cell phone. According to what detectives transcribed from Herring’s cell phone—at 9:43 p.m. there’s a text to Uncle Stack about she and her mother meeting him in Jacksonville (a tripped that they’d planned to take the next day). LCSO does not show if/ when that text was responded to. There’s an incoming phone call to her phone at 10:50 p.m. from Kevin listed but does not state if she answered the call/the duration of the call.

After finding her two older children deceased, their mother told detectives that her daughter (the female victim) and her granddaughter (the female victim’s year-old daughter) had been with her for the most part of the day on January 26, 2011. She stated that she’d dropped her daughter and granddaughter off at the townhouse around 10 p.m. She stated that they’d all gone inside of the townhouse to which her daughter began to cook dinner while she was there. She also stated that her 17-year-old son, Sterling Conner Jr. was not at the residence at that time. She went on to say that she left the residence at 10:30 p.m. and did not return to the residence until the following morning.

What is not stated in her report is that she searched the entire two-story 3 bedroom 2 ½ bathrooms with a laundryroom and a single car garage to ensure that her son was not in the townhouse. Possibly already deceased—body hidden under the same blankets to which he was discovered wrapped in.

October 15, 2013 the victims’ mother, Tracy Bush testified that her son was not at home the evening of January 26, 2011 when she took her daughter and granddaughter into the residence. Again, Ms. Bush was not asked by State Prosecutor Jack Campbell or Regional Counsel—defense attorney Daren Shippy—if she’d checked the entire house to ensure that her son, Sterling Conner Jr. was not in the residence.

During Crime Scene Detective Fred Smelt’s testimony State Prosecutor Jack Campbell showed a video recording of the crime scene shot by someone with Crime Scene Unit. At one point in the video, the person with the video camera shows the crime scene from the top of the stairs—giving a “birds eye” view of the livingroom to which both Herring and Conner Jr. were found (Herring was found sitting slumped over in a chair and Conner Jr. was found near her feet wrapped in two comforters—due to the fact that Herring was sitting in a comfortable position (one of her legs bent under the other) everybody agrees that Herring appeared to be caught completely off guard when she was shot in the head. Directly in the lens of this “Birds eye” view of the livingroom is Herring sitting in the chair. Herring was shot in the top of her head. The same as the Crime Scene Unit took the position from the top of the stairs to shoot that “Birds eye” view of the livingroom—a murderer hiding upstairs in their residence could’ve took aim and fired a single bullet into Herring’s head.

After the much anticipated time of wanting to hear from Trentin Ross (the state’s “key” witness), Ross also took to the stand and was fed his previous statement from February 4, 2011 the day that he (Ross) supposedly voluntarily gave incriminating statements that led to charging DeShon Thomas with the murders.

Ross’ testified that he and Thomas worked together at Taco Bell on Capital Circle N.E. On January 26, 2011 Thomas went to work during the mid-evening hours and Ross did not have to work at all that day. Ross stated that he consumed 4 big bottles of Vodka and smoked a lot of marijuana that day. He stated that he did not know what time Thomas got home the morning of January 27, 2011. DeShon Thomas, who did not have a car, had been dropped off at Ross’ residence by a co-worker after ending his shift at 1:30 a.m. Although Ross stated that he was drunk and could barely function—he admits that he sat in the car and heard DeShon Thomas put guns into the wheel-well of his girlfriend’s car and then he (Ross) drove DeShon Thomas to several places including near the victims residence—where he parked in a dark driveway across from the victims’ residence. Ross stated that he didn’t know DeShon Thomas was going to murder the victims—yet he heard two gunshots—received a text message from DeShon Thomas asking about the clearance of Highway 20 (where Ross was sitting in the car waiting)—and quickly reacted to drive away when he saw DeShon Thomas running towards the car. From there he drove DeShon Thomas to the Family Dollars located less than a half mile from the victims’ residence to drop something in the dumpster and then to other locations before driving back to his (Ross’) apartment. Ross never testified to support Chief Assistant Georgia Cappleman’s March 2011 statement about a witness seeing DeShon Thomas go into the victims’ residence with a 9mm pistol and the bullets from his pistol were those that murdered the victims.

Ross also testified about a Tech 9mm that is NOT the murder weapon.

Immediately after the murders, Leon County Sheriff’s Detectives had concluded that the victims were murdered with a 9mm. This information was used to obtain search warrants against DeShon Thomas; it was used in the Probable Cause Report, it was used in public statements to the media—the case against DeShon Thomas was built on his (Thomas’) use of a 9mm—DESPITE the victims’ autopsy that was conducted the next day, DESPITE FDLE providing the Leon County Sheriff’s Office with a laboratory report dated February 17, 2011 which stated that the projectiles were fired from a 38/357 caliber handgun—both the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office held their theory that the victims were murdered with a 9mm.

Now, that DeShon Thomas’ case is at trial, the mentioning of a .38 caliber revolver at some point on January 26 and 27, 2011 has seemed to dominate the state’s case.

October 8, 2013

 

Judge Jackie Fulford

301 S. Monroe Street Room 100

Tallahassee, FL 32301

 

Dear Judge Fulford:

RE: Case# 2011CF375A1, A2 2011CF441A1, A2, A3, 2012CF2662A1

I am writing this letter on behalf of my son, DeShon Thomas. In July 2013, I made contact with an Orlando area attorney to see if she would be interested in representing my son, DeShon, in the pending cases against him in Leon County. After informing the attorney of the scheduled motion hearing in August, she advised that I wait until the rulings from the motions before giving her any monies. In which I did. When I met with her after the hearing, she was agreed to look at the information that I provided to her and contact me. To which she did not contact me—despite several messages that I’d left with her office.

Recently, my son, Robert Chambers, went to her office to follow up on why we had not heard back from her. At which time she informed Robert that she’d spoken with both Gregory Cummings and Daren Shippy to which they told her that I was a troublemaker and that I was the problem as to why my son’s case was not moving through the judicial process. Cummings went even further to tell her that payments from me were not reliable and he informed her that I’d bounced a check with him. She concluded that she did not want to get involved with the case.

My son, DeShon, believes that Mr. Shippy’s statements hindered him from retaining a private attorney that would’ve provided him with better representation. Although Mr. Shippy has been more active on his case than any other attorney, early on Mr. Shippy did file a Motion to Withdraw, to which he told DeShon that his case was “a lot of work.” I offered to pay for an investigator to help Mr. Shippy shift through witness statements, but instead of accepting my offer as a mother who is only seeking fair and unbiased justice for her son, I see now that I’ve been labeled as a “troublemaker.” To date Mr. Shippy has not disclosed all of the evidence. Mr. Shippy has not been able to sort out all of the contradicting statements given by both law enforcement officers and witnesses. At the hearing on October 7, 2013 the lines of communication between DeShon and Mr. Shippy was not clear—bottom line Mr. Shippy does not seem to be able to handle DeShon’s case properly and he’s begging the court to grant him a continuance. Mr. Shippy is being copied on this letter so if asking the court directly is not the right protocol, then Mr. Shippy is being asked to file a motion for a continuance as soon as possible. DeShon Thomas does not want to go to trial as scheduled for October 14, 2013. DeShon no longer wants Mr. Daren Shippy to represent him.

Thank you for your time and consideration regarding this matter. It should be known that this letter is being mailed express to all parties, except DeShon who authorized me to write this letter.

Respectfully,

Carissa Chambers

 

cc: Daren Shippy, Jeff Lewis, DeShon Thomas

Tallahassee, FL: In February 2012, seventeen year-old DeShon Thomas was charged with the January 27, 2011 discovery of two of his deceased friends. The victims in the case was DeShon’s pregnant ex-girlfriend, 20-year-old Laqecia Herring and her 17-year-old brother, Sterling Conner Jr. The victims were found murdered in their mother’s SW Tallahassee townhouse. When Leon County Sheriff’s detectives arrived on the scene, the victims’ mother told detectives that Laqecia Herring was approximately 5 months pregnant. She later told detectives that her son, Sterling Conner Jr., was diagnosed as being bipolar. After the victims’ mother gave detectives a laundry list of possible suspects (to which both victims had recently defaulted on two different monetary incidents–the victims’ 16-year-old brother told detectives that Sterling Conner Jr. had recently been given fake money to purchase drugs; the victims’ family members told detectives that Laqecia Herring had owed a female friend and her mother about $350 for rent–Laqecia Herring had lived with the female friend and her mother for less than a month before she abruptly moved out without paying them, in which Laqecia Herring had made it clear to the two women that she had no intentions on paying them the money. Laqecia Herring’s decision to not pay the victims resulted in several heated Facebook posts to include one by the female friend in reference to Laqecia Herring that stated, “I got a hit out on this bitch.” A day before all outgoing cell phone usage from Laqecia Herring’s phone came to an abrupt end, Laqecia Herring and a posse went to the female friend and her mother’s house. On the way to the house, it was reported that Laqecia Herring warned her posse that the female friend’s mother had a gun. When the posse arrived at the female friend and her mother’s house, they were met by the female friend’s posse. Laqecia Herring’s posse got out of the car–Laqecia Herring did not. Instead, she locked all of the doors and remained in the car. However, that didn’t stop the female friend from aggressively trying to get to her–demanding that she get out of the car. Witin 48 hours of this confrontation, during the mid-morning hours on January 27, 2011 Laqecia Herring and her brother, Sterling Conner Jr. were found murdered by their mother, their mother’s girlfriend (significant other), and their 16-year-old brother. Also in the townhouse was Laqecia Herring’s toddler daughter–she was unharmed.

Laqecia Herring did not own a car. It was reported that within 48 hours before she and her brother were found murdered, she got a ride to her mother’s girlfriend’s house where she was given $5 by her mother’s girlfriend to pay the car owner gas that was used to take her to the female friend and her mother’s house to confront her about the threatening Facebook posts(the late night/ early morning hours of January 25). The distance of Laqecia Herring’s mother’s significant other’s house, the best friend and her mother’s house where the confrontation took place and the crime scene is less than five miles.

Leon County Sheriff’s detectives chose not to investigate the incident between Laqecia Herring and the recent confrontation with her friend and her best friend’s mother. Leon County Sheriff’s detectives chose not thoroughly investigate the lead that Sterling Conner Jr. had been given fake money by an adult neighbor of his mother’s girlfriend. Neither did Leon County Sheriff’s detectives investigate the other leads given to them by the victims’ family members. DeShon Thomas was not a lead given to detectives. Nobody named DeShon Thomas as a possible murder suspect. Instead, Leon County Sheriff’s detectives chose to focus on two year old, non-violent juvenile charges and acted on a hunch–not evidence–and immediately obtained a court order for DeShon’s cell phone records, as well as having his cell phone placed under GPS monitoring. The probable cause for this action was frivolous. Detectives immediately set up surveillance on DeShon. An hour or so after, when they approached DeShon, they asked him if he wanted to go to the sheriff’s office–he declined. Detectives then had another deputy take pictures of DeShon’s shoes. DeShon was not taken into custody.

The next even, when DeShon’s mother arrived in Tallahassee from being out of town, DeShon told her about the murders, the Facebook arguing that concerned DeShon since there was a possibility that Laqecia Herring was pregnant with his child and the detectives’ actions. DeShon’s mother took him to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. There she and DeShon were met by Detective Don Odham who used racist vulgar towards them. DeShon’s mother was not allowed to accompany him while he gave a statement. When DeShon’s mother told detectives that she wanted an attorney to accompany her son–her request was ignored. From there more frivolous search warrants were approved by Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell and signed by Judge Ronald Flurry.

Although DeShon was not charged with the murders that night, detectives were acting like vultures waiting for a human to die. Their actions were cold and calculating. They absolutely wanted DeShon to be the murderer–nothing was going to stop them from charging DeShon with the murders–not the lack of evidence–not the fact that the mother told them about one of Sterling Conner Jr.’s 16-year-old male friends who’d recently lived at the residence with Sterling during the brief time when Laqecia had moved out. Then when things didn’t go well between Sterling and the teenage boy–the boy repeatedly burglarized the victims’ residence. During one burglary, Sterling was asleep in his bed and woke up to find the teenage boy standing over him. This 16-year-old boy had a more recent juvenile record than DeShon. This 16-year-old boy had a homicidal profile. This 16-year-old boy was never questioned by Leon County Sheriff’s detectives. And a few months after DeShon was charged with the murders of Herring and Conner Jr.–this now 17-year-old teenage boy was charged with assaulting someone with a gun. This 17-year-old teenage boy–whose name was given to Leon County Sheriff’s detectives early on in a murder investigation–was sent to a juvenile facility versus being charged as an adult. As for DeShon, he was charged as an adult on a bogus charge of cultivation of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

After DeShon was in the Leon County Jail where juvenile inmates are housed, he was not provided with information as to who his court appointed attorney was–neither was the Clerk of Courts or the Criminal Conflict Office. Yet, Gregory Cummings, whom was told by DeShon’s mother that she was not going to hire an attorney until she and DeShon had an opportunity to speak with his court appointed attorney–continued to aggressively solicit her to hire him to represent his son. Gregory Cummings had previously met with DeShon’s mother and DeShon (separately). Gregory Cummings told DeShon’s mother that her son was polite–looked him in his eyes when he questioned him about his involvement–overall, Gregory Cummings stated that with his numerous years of experience of being a criminal defense attorney–he believed that DeShon was being truthful about not having any involvement with the murders. Despite Gregory Cummings evaluation of DeShon, DeShon’s mother still wanted to speak with DeShon’s court appointed attorney. However, that would never happen. A month had passed, additional charges were being filed against DeShon–and Gregory Cummings pressure for DeShon’s mother (not DeShon)to hire him–forced DeShon’s mother to take all of her savings to retain Gregory Cummings. Whereas other attorneys who DeShon’s mother had spoken with talked about how important it was to immediately hire an investigator to question witnesses–at the time of signing the contract Gregory Cummings told Deshon’s mother that the hiring of an investigator was not needed.

Gregory Cummings, a sole proprietor who works out of the comfort of his home–also is registered with the Criminal Conflict and Regional Counsel’s Office. DeShon and his mother would eventually learn that Gregory Cummings’ loyalty to Circuit Court Judge James Hankinson, Assistant State Prosecutor Jack Campbell and Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell trumped just aboout ALL rules laid out by the Supreme Court for governing attorney-client relationships. Gregory Cummings was DeShon’s attorney for well over a year. When DeShon’s mother acted on her belief that something was not right with Greg Cummings, she advised her son to fire him (for she was only financially obligated and had stopped making payments to him). When her son fired Gregory Cummings, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Assistant State Prosecutor Jack Campbell and Circuit Court Judge James Hankinson retailiated by charging DeShon with solicitation to commit murder and put DeShon in solitary confinement; blocked DeShon from being able to make any phone calls or have any visitors. DeShon has been in solitary confinement for over a year and he is still not able to make any phone calls or have visitors. Because of Gregory Cummings corrupt actions, the cost of DeShon’s representation has fallen to the taxpayers. DeShon has had several court appointed attorneys since firing Gregory Cummings. Circuit Court Judge James Hankinson is no longer presiding over DeShon’s case.

The excert below is from an email sent from Gregory Cummings to DeShon’s mother. You will read where Gregory Cummings was either allowed to listen in on a jailhouse conversation between DeShon and his mother or was told about a jailhouse conversation between DeShon and his mother by a jailhouse employee. Which raises the question as to if Gregory Cummings was acting in an ethical manner, why would he need to listen in or be told about conversations between his juvenile client and his client’s mother (who signed a contract making her financially responsible)?

You do not need retain another attorney. I told Deshon you cannot fire me. That would be up to him and we talked for a while yesterday and I do not believe he wants that. I did not speak to him about you in any negative way and told him I was disappointed at the fact that you and he had an argument and one of you hung up on the other.
Deshon asked what would happen if you did not pay me any more. I told him not to worry that I was his attorney and would not withdraw this close to trial because of non payment. and that would not be an issue. And our contract allows for that. That a non payment would be an issue between me and you and would not affect my representing him.

As for representing your son in a fair and just way. He is my main concern. However, another motivating factor is my work as viewed by those involved in the judicial system. I believe I have a very good reputation for what i do and have been quite successful at times. Even when cases turned out bad for my clients or I knew exactly what their involvement was never did I not do my best and each received a fair and just representation or as the court looks at it competent representation.
Enough as to this email. I doubt I’ll respond to the others at such length.
–Also, had DeShon told Gregory Cummings about the argument that he and his mother had—DeShon would’ve told him who hung up on who. In the above excerpt Gregory Cummings states as if DeShon is his number one concern—however, after DeShon fired Gregory Cummings, DeShon’s mother looked into DeShon’s court records and saw that Gregory Cummings had not filed any documents to show a defense for DeShon—not even a Defense Witness List.

As for depositions–after Gregory Cummings was fired, he told DeShon’s mother that he’d forwarded all of DeShon’s records to the Criminal Conflict Counsel’s Office. This is the email response sent from Gregory Cummings to DeShon’s mother –keep in mind that Gregory Cummings was DeShon’s attorney for over a year and was paid nearly $30,000. (click on the link Email from Cummings 8-14-13 )

Tallahassee, FL—In the Archives for this site, there are a number of articles that discuss the crumbling foundation of Leon County Sheriff’s detectives, 2^nd District State Attorney’s Office and Criminal Defense Attorney Gregory Cummings attempt to build a double murder case against 17-year-old black male college student, DeShon Thomas. Since this site’s first article, posted in April 2012, many articles have followed to show the ‘InnerWorks of Florida’s Good Ol’ Boy Network in the Capitol City’ (published June 2013). While DeShon Thomas, who is now 20-years-old, has not wavered in his fight to prove his innocence, the Leon County judicial make-up has shown unethical practice to such a degree that agents with the FBI, the FDLE, attorneys outside of Tallahassee, national news producers, and every day ordinary people find themselves scratching their heads because not only do they not want to believe that people with such authority would grossly violate an innocent teenage boy along with the trust of the citizens to whom so many look to for protection, they also don’t understand how could it be ethical for State Prosecutor Jack Campbell (the son) prosecute criminal cases within the jurisdiction of Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell (the father). A South Florida citizen who participated in the sit-in with the Dream Defenders at Florida’s State Capitol discussed how he once worked as a consultant for a firm and when he got a job to work as a consultant for another firm, he had to wait one year before he could actually start working at the other firm. The unethical process of this case is clear. Unfortunately, in this case (and others) some of those in authority have unjustly over reached to solve this double murder case and have themselves become criminals.

What criminal is in a hurry to be caught? In the Archives under the month of July 2012, the article titled, ‘Dishonored Ex-Lead Detective in Double Murder Case Still On Assistant State Attorney’s A+ List’, it tells about how State Prosecutor Jack Campbell filed a Motion for Continuance asking the presiding judge, Judge James C. Hankinson, to grant an continuance for trial based on former Detective Don Odham having to go on a previously planned family vacation. This particular continuance was about the third motion for acontinuance on record. In this motion dated March 2012, Prosecutor Jack Campbell states that former Detective Don Odham is “a essential witness” and that proceeding with trial would be “impossible and impracticable. Also, noted in this motion is that defense attorney (Gregory Cummings) does not object to the granting of this continuance (well now we know why Cummings never objected to anything). This motion was in fact granted. An order was granted and DeShon Thomas’ trial was rescheduled for the week of August 13, 2012.

In the Archives under the month of September 2012, the article titled, ‘Game Being Played By The Assistant State Attorney’s Office: Hide and Go Seek’, it tells of how DeShon Thomas’ mother picked up on unethical practice between Criminal Defense Attorney Gregory Cummings and State Prosecutor Jack Campbell. Thomas’ mother stopped paying Gregory Cummings. And although she’d paid Cummings nearly $30,000 over the 16 months that he’d been hired to represent her son, in late July 2012, she suggested to her son to fire Cummings immediately! Thomas, who’d been in the Leon County Jail for over a year, was reluctant to fire Cummings—not because Cummings had been positively active on his case, but because he was a few weeks away from trial and did not want to start all over with a new attorney—delaying his trail. Well, Thomas’ trail was delayed. Once again, in an email to Thomas’ mother from Cummings, Cummings cited Judge Hankinson as to having to have surgery for a cancerous growth on his nose. Though there was never any legal documents filed (i.e. motion for continuance and order for continuance) Thomas’ trail was reset for the week of October 23^, 2012.

Upon signing a Contract for Service between Thomas’ mother, Thomas and Cummings, Cummings promised to disclose Thomas’ cell phone records (which the State Attorney’s Office Sealed weeks before Thomas was charged with the murders) , the victims’ autopsy reports and get a sworn deposition from Trentin Ross—Thomas’ former co-worker and roommate (it wasn’t until former Det. Don Odham supposedly took an incriminating statement from Ross as to when Det. Odham authored the probable cause report that led to Thomas being charged with the murders. Det. Odham would become 2^nd lead detective on the case). During the sixteen months on Thomas’ case, Cummings did not make good on any of what was asked of him. Thomas’ mother constantly asked Cummings about what he’d agreed to do but to no avail. Thomas’ mother called the District Two Medical Examiner’s Office to request the victims’ autopsy reports herself but was told that the autopsy reports had not been made public record. Thomas’ mother was told to consult with the State Attorney’s Office for further information. Through research, Thomas’ mother learned that there was no valid reason for the State Attorney’s Office to have not released the victims’ autopsy reports. According to all Leon County Sheriff’s Office Media Release, Thomas was the only person being charged with the murders. Thomas’ mother also took note that on the Entry Log sign in sheet (2 pages) for all of those entering the crime scene dated January 27, 2011 there is no entry for a representative of the District Two Medical Examiner’s Office.

In another Archived article for September 2012 titled, ‘Tallahassee Citizens FYI-Sideshow Continues’, among other things, when Cummings caught wind that Thomas’ mother had suggest he be fired off of the case, Cummings changed his whole tune regarding Thomas’ case—even telling Thomas during a conversation between he and Thomas when Thomas told him that he could not afford to pay him for his legal services—Cummings offered to continue on without pay. When Thomas told his mother of Cummings’ sudden “generosity,” Thomas’ mother suggested to her son that he “run to the hills!” She knew Cummings “smelled” for sure. Thomas did as his mother suggested. Sure enough Thomas’ mother’s intuition proved to be the right call for his best interest. Cummings had not done anything—nada—absolutely nothing—to build a defense for Thomas—thus, paving the way for the Campbell’s (father’s crew and son) to concoct a Solicitation To Commit 1^st Degree Murder case against Thomas—with the target person being Thomas’ ex-coworker and former roommate, Trentin Ross (supposedly the State’s Key Witness). Fortunately, the concocted plan was in its infancy—all of the traps that they thought that they’d be able to pull off—immediately came to a halt when Cummings was fired. Thomas’ mother did not have the financial means to obtain another private attorney for her son. Thomas’ cases have since fallen on the taxpayers of Florida.

Over this last year, again—since firing Cummings—there have been several revelations as to the ethics of the Leon County Judicial make-up presiding over Thomas’ case. In June 2013, after a number of letters Thomas’ mother had been sending to Governor Rick Scott outlining high questionable actions that have taken place on her son’s cases inside the courtroom, Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson was removed as presiding judge and assigned to Judge Jackie Fulford. Although, in a letter from someone at the Governor’s Office it stated that they do not get involved with ongoing criminal cases—Thomas and his mother have no care as to whom or why Hankinson was removed—Hankinson did not protect Thomas’ eighth amendment—and that’s no acceptable.

In June 2013, nearly a year without being allowed to visit her son or communicate with him decently over the phone, Thomas’ mother reached out to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office’s Internal Affairs to inquire what would have to be done in order to visit with her son. Internal Affairs responded and Thomas’ mother re-acted. Thomas’ mother’s reaction sparked State Prosecutor Jack Campbell to immediately file a Motion To Have Court Order The Leon County Sheriff’s Office To Not Allow Visitation Privileges for DeShon Thomas. This motion was filed the day before Thomas’ mother was to visit. The motion was granted by Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson—Not the presiding Judge Jackie Fulford.

Currently, Thomas’ cases are being handled by the Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel’s Office, where Daren Shippy is the 2^nd Regional Counsel to represent him. There have been approximately 5 attorneys (1 private attorney) on Thomas’ cases. Although Shippy is the only attorney that has been active on Thomas’ cases, it is clear that he too is tippy-toeing around. Shippy does not return any of Thomas’ mother’s phone calls. He does not notify any of Thomas’ relatives as to when there is a hearing set. He has not done anything to accommodate Thomas’ requests to have his family visit—or to get him out of solitary confinement—where he has been for over a year. Truly, Thomas and his family agree that Shippy’s focus should be preparing for Thomas’ trial. The issues with the preparation are the same as with Cummings—why are Thomas’ cell phone records still Sealed? Why are the victims’ autopsy reports still confidential? Why has Trentin Ross (the state’s key witness) not been deposed? To date there is still no physical, material or circumstantial evidence against Thomas. There are no sworn incriminating statements against Thomas.

On August 19, 2013 there was a hearing to discuss several motions filed by Thomas’ defense counsel. There were eight Leon County Sheriff’s law enforcement agents subpoenaed to appear—of those eight only three appeared. In absence were Deputy Pat McLeod, Deputy Tommy Gore, Deputy Brian Pearson, Lieutenant Tim Baxter and Deputy Velveeta Couch. While Thomas and his mother did not come in contact with a Deputy Velveeta Couch—they did have a verbal exchange with Deputy Clifton Couch. As reported and documented, it was just last year State Prosecutor Jack Campbell motioned the court for a continuance while former Detective Don Odham (2^nd lead detective) flew off to enjoy a luxury vacation with his family—not only did Shippy not subpoena former Detective Don Odham, State Prosecutor Jack Campbell downplayed Odham’s relevancy to be a part of the trial against Thomas.

After Leon County Sheriff’s detectives were called to the scene of the double homicide, the victims’ mother and family members gave detectives a laundry list of possible suspects (DeShon was not one of them). Considering that the female victim had been arguing with another young woman on Facebook where the other young woman posted that she had a “Hit out for this bitch” and that there was verbal confrontation between the two young women over about $350 the deceased woman owed to the young woman and the young woman’s mother with 48 hours of the murders, yet, the three detectives took to the stand and testified that they did not follow-up on that situation. The young woman who’d made the threats was subpoenaed to come to the hearing but did not come.

There are a slew of other suspects who had motive to murder those two young victims. Also during the hearing, State Prosecutor Jack Campbell finally stated their motive as to why Thomas murdered the two victims—stating that the 17-year-old male victim, Sterling Conner Jr., was Thomas’ target and that his pregnant ex-girlfriend, 20-year-old Laqecia Herring, was murdered because she was “there.” Stating that the murder of Sterling Conner Jr. was gang related—that Thomas had recruited Sterling Conner Jr. into the “Blood” gang and that Thomas murdered Conner Jr. because he (Thomas) saw him (Conner Jr.) in a picture with the color black on his sleeve and that was being disrespectful to the Blood gang—because black is color that Blood gang members are not “allowed” to wear. In hearing that statement from State Prosecutor Jack Campbell it was obvious that he didn’t do his homework before making such ridiculous claims without merit. In an interview of LaShonda Perkins, the victims’ mother’s significant other, taken by Detective McBride, Perkins supposedly tells McBride that it is her “understanding that Thomas is a gang member. She advised that he wears the red and black colors and that he may be in the “blood gang.” She is assuming that because everything that he (Thomas) wears is red and black.” Which raises the question as to if he wears red and black—why would he murder Conner Jr. for wearing black anywhere? And then turn around and murder his ex-girlfriend of 3 months and their possible unborn daughter—yet, leave Herring’s toddler daughter unharmed. Both Thomas and Conner Jr. were under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Neither Thomas nor Conner Jr. were listed as gang members or had ever been referred to any Anti-Gang programs.

At the time Thomas was charged with the murders, he had not had any run-ins with law enforcement in over a year. Thomas had been working part-time at Taco Bell for over a year and was in his 3^rd semester as a college freshman at Tallahassee Community College. It is rather sickening to watch State Prosecutor Jack Campbell lust to prosecute a young black male who was 17-years-old and doing what is asked for by every parent—get an education and work. Thomas may not have been an angel—but some of those within the Leon County Sheriff’s and the District Two State Attorney’s Office—with State Prosecutor Jack Campbell leading the pack—have proven—straight up documented—their Evil ways.

As Thomas’ mother used to tell him, “No matter what—you’ll have to listen to somebody—someday!” She is quick to state for all of those who have LIED, fabricated evidence, falsified documents, violated her and her son’s rights—“There’s a place for people like you—and there’s an everlasting burn.”            

Please click on the link below to read about how after 2 1/2 years of being in jail, attorneys continue to run in circles around DeShon Thomas when he requests for vital information to be undisclosed. These are the same games Gregory Cummings played during the 16 months when he was representing DeShon as a private attorney. Greg Cummings was paid nearly $30,000 yet he produced absolutely nothing in DeShon’s defense. There is no incriminating physical, material, or circumstantial evidence against DeShon. There are no depositions have been taken. DeShon is INNOCENT!!!

FAILING TO DISCLOSE

Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and Assistant State Attorney/ Prosecutor Jack Campbell work together as father and son in an attempt to railroad innocent 17-year-old black college student DeShon Thomas into Florida’s Prison System.

In January 2011, DeShon Thomas was a 17-year-old college student at Tallahassee Community College and worked part-time at Taco Bell.

During the mid-morning hours of January 27, 2011 DeShon’s 20-year-old pregnant ex-girlfriend, Laqecia Herring and her 17-year-old brother, Sterling Conner Jr. were found murdered in their mother’s SE Tallahassee townhouse in the Wolf Creek subdivision by their mother, 16-year-old brother and their mother’s girlfriend (significant other). Laqecia’s daughter (a toddler) was also found in the townhouse—she was not harmed.

On January 29, 2011 (being a responsible parent) DeShon’s mother took DeShon to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to inform detectives about threats that he’d read on Laqecia’s Facebook page that had been posted by female friend of hers. (The female friend posted that she had a “Hit out on this bitch” referring to Laqecia. Within 48 hours later, Laqecia and her brother would be dead.) Despite DeShon and Laqecia having ended their 6 weeks relationship 3 months prior to the murders, they remained friends. In a text message exchange between DeShon and Laqecia (the last night of her life) Laqecia texted DeShon telling him that she owed the female friend and her mother money but had no intentions on paying them—which was the reasoning for the threatening posts.

Immediately upon coming in contact with a Det. Don Odham, DeShon and his mother were met with racist vulgar. DeShon and his mother are originally from Orlando, FL. Despite having lived in Tallahassee for 11 years, Det. Odham profiled them as criminals. Det. Odham denied DeShon the right to legal counsel. While DeShon’s mother was forced to wait in the lobby, Det. Odham and Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell worked on several frivolous search warrants for DeShon’s persons and property.

As DeShon sat in jail on bogus cultivation of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia charges, he was charged with two counts of 1st Degree Murder (Eleven days after the murders).

DeShon and his family would learn that the victims’ family member had given LCSO detectives a laundry list of suspects—DeShon was not one of them. Of all the victims’ acquaintances, DeShon was the only one in school looking forward to his future. In the beginning of the investigation, detectives came up with this theory that DeShon murdered Laqecia because he didn’t want to be a father. But when Laqecia’s Pre-natal paperwork and her family members’ statements didn’t support that theory, then detectives needed to make DeShon a gang member. Detectives’ next theory was to make DeShon have a beef with Laqecia’s brother, 17-year-old Sterling (the other victim) which detectives tried to make him a gang member too. But when Sterling’s family members and friends did not support detectives calling Sterling a gang member; detectives went back to make Laqecia’s pregnancy an issue with DeShon. Never investigating the Facebook issue.
To show how desperate Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the 2nd District State Attorney’s Office is to railroad DeShon into the Florida Prison System, in August 2012, after DeShon’s mother learned that DeShon’s local private paid Criminal Defense Attorney, Gregory Cummings and Assistant State Attorney/ Prosecutor Jack Campbell were working hand in hand against DeShon, she and DeShon fired Greg Cummings. The exact same day that Greg Cummings filed a Motion to Withdraw from DeShon’s case, Leon County Sheriff’s Detectives and the State Attorney’s Office charged DeShon with solicitation to commit the murder of his once co-worker, roommate and friend, 21-year-old Trentin Ross. Det. Odham, who was fired/dismissed from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office a few months after DeShon was charged with the murders, had put in his report that Trentin Ross had voluntarily came into the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and gave an incriminating statement against DeShon. However, after DeShon’s arrest, Trentin Ross moved back to his hometown of Daytona Beach and the Leon County Clerk of Courts lost track of him. Trentin Ross told DeShon’s family members that he never gave LCSO an incriminating statement against DeShon. To date DeShon has yet to see any incriminating evidence against him. State Prosecutor Jack Campbell refuses to allow the Medical Examiner’s Office to make the victims’ autopsy reports public record. For the 16 months that Greg Cummings was on DeShon’s case, he refused to provide and/or discuss the victims’ autopsy report with DeShon (DeShon requested this information in writing several times).

Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson signed the probable cause and the arrest warrant for the solicitation of murder. State Attorney Willie Meggs told the media that DeShon did solicit the murder of Trentin Ross. The real criminals here are those within the judicial system. Again, using his dad (Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell’s resources) Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell solicited adult jailhouse inmate’s to prey on DeShon. After DeShon was charged with solicitation to commit murder, he was put in solitary confinement; all of his visitation and phone privileges were taken away from him. DeShon has not been allowed to have a visit from any of his love ones or call home in almost a year. DeShon is currently being represented by a court-appointed attorney with the Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel’s Office by the name of Daren Shippy.

A few months after firing Greg Cummings, DeShon’s mother found evidence to show where Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson may have knowingly allowed—if not participated, in the shenanigans that State Prosecutor Jack Campbell and Greg Cummings played out in his courtroom. Greg Cummings was DeShon’s attorney for 16 months. He’d been paid a total of $29560. There is no doubt that a number of DeShon’s state, constitutional, and civil rights have been violated. There is no doubt that with the help of Assistant State Attorney/ Prosecutor Jack Campbell and Leon County Sheriff’s detectives fabricated evidence and straight out lied to get DeShon in jail. There is no doubt that evidence is still being withheld from DeShon and the public.

Now 2 ½ years later, there is still no sworn incriminating statement against DeShon; no physical, no material or circumstantial evidence against him. In June 2013, DeShon’s case was assigned to another judge—Judge Jackie Fulford. Also, in June 2013, for the first time, there are legal documents filed to show that DeShon has a legal defense—in part showing where someone else committed the murders.

For 2 ½ years the 2nd District State Attorney’s Office and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office has not been able to find any evidence to support the charges of cultivation of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of 1st Degree Murder and possession of a firearm by a juvenile delinquent against DeShon. On the other hand, DeShon’s mother has found plenty of evidence to support the fact that Leon County Sheriff’s Detectives and the 2nd District State Attorney’s Office wrongfully charged DeShon. Having said that—it is important for the citizens of Tallahassee and all surrounding cities to know that the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the 2nd District State Attorney’s Office is well aware that there is a murderer of a pregnant woman and a 17-year-old amongst them. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the 2nd District State Attorney’s Office is in complete violation of the oath that they took to protect the communities.

FYI: Following the firing of Greg Cummings, both DeShon and his mother filed a complaint against Greg Cummings with The Florida Bar for violating several Rules of Professional Conduct. The Florida Bar has stated that Greg Cummings did not violate any of their rules.

June 20, 2013

Captain Todd McKissack
Internal Affairs
P.O. Box 727
Tallahassee, FL 32303

RE: Chief Inspector General Case #201302130003

Dear Captain McKissack:

I was referred to you by the Office of the Governor. I am the mother of DeShon Rashard Thomas, Leon County Jail inmate #216577; I’m writing this letter on behalf of my son. My son has been in the Leon County Jail since February 2, 2011 when he was 17-years-old. Subsequently, he was charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, 2 counts of 1st Degree Murder, possession of a firearm by a juvenile delinquent. At my request, in August 2012, after having been on the case for sixteen months, DeShon fired his private attorney, Greg Cummings. Simultaneous to firing Cummings, DeShon was charged with Solicitation to Commit Murder with the intended victim being his friend and State Attorney’s Office supposed key witness, Trentin Ross. On August 17, 2012, the day after Cummings filed a Motion to Withdraw from the case, DeShon was put in solitary confinement; his visitation and phone privileges were taken away from him. Leon County Jail Records will show that for the most part I was the only one visiting him on a regular basis. It has been nearly a year since I’ve been able to visit with my son. My son has not been convicted of any wrongdoings—all of the charges against him are accusations without facts. In reference to the murder charges, there are no sworn statements, no physical evidence, no material evidence, no circumstantial evidence and no motive to support the charges.

On February 13, 2013 during normal business hours, I went to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to speak with someone about visiting my son. I was referred to the jail—specifically Major Coughlin. I went directly to the jail. There I waited for over an hour for Major Coughlin. He never responded. The next afternoon I received a phone call from someone by the name of Lee. Lee told me that he was calling for Major Coughlin. I explained to Lee that I live in Central Florida and that I wanted to know what needs to happen in order for me to visit with my son; especially when I come to Tallahassee for his court dates. Lee said that he didn’t see a problem with me visiting with my son because my son has been respectful. He said that he would have to discuss it with Major Coughlin. Lee also told me that he would call me back the next day—he never did.

My son recently asked me to do everything possible to see about getting him out of solitary confinement. Again, he’s been accused not convicted. Those who were supposedly to play roles in the solicitation to commit murder are other jailhouse inmates. In my opinion, I strongly believe that the solicitation to commit murder plot is just another scheme launched by Leon County Sheriff’s detectives and the State Attorney’s Office to help give weight to charge my son with the double murder charges. My son had been in jail for over a year and half when Leon County Sheriff’s detectives and the State Attorney’s Office decided to create hostility in DeShon towards Trentin Ross. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office, nor the Leon County Clerk of Courts were aware of Trentin Ross’ whereabouts. On Trentin Ross’ Docket Report on Case Process at the Leon County Clerk of Courts, there are a number of attempts to service court notices to Trentin Ross. All of them state, “Notice Returned Unclaimed.” Therefore the question becomes, if they didn’t know where Trentin Ross was located, how did my son know where Trentin Ross was located? There is no city or physical address mentioned in the probable cause report used to charge my son with solicitation to commit murder. Among other reasons, this charge was trumped up to strip my son from communicating and visiting with me.

Captain McKissack, my son has been in solitary confinement for approximately 305 days; I don’t know what, if anything, you can do to get him out of solitary confinement or at least his visitation and phone privileges reinstated, but if there’s nothing that you can do, can you please advise me and/or my son what he can do. My son has told me that all of his requests and grievances to staff have been ignored.

Thank you for your time.

Appreciative,

Imagine your seventeen-year-old son comes to you and tell you that his pregnant 19-year-old ex-girlfriend and her 17-year-old brother have been murdered. He tells you that there has not been an arrest for their murders. Then he tells you that he may have some information that may help detectives with their investigation. Next, he tells you that he has a feeling that the police are following him. You then discuss the information that he has to tell detectives and why he believes the police are following him.

As a responsible parent, you take your seventeen-year-old son, who has no violent criminal history, to the local sheriff’s office (in this case the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in Tallahassee, FL) to speak with law enforcement officers about the murders. As a parent, you are well aware of your parental rights. However, you never anticipate that you’ll find yourself in the presence of a racist cocky detective, who crumbles up your parental rights and tosses them into the trash can—like what you say means nothing. (Yes, right there in front of your son.) And then, when you tell detectives that you want an attorney for your son, they completely ignore you—leaving you standing in the lobby in total disbelief. Disbelief that the rights that your ancestors and so many Black people died for has been completely demolished right before your eyes. And for what? If you were a grizzly bear—you would’ve swatted their heads off their bodies—isn’t that what grizzly bears do when they feel like their cubs are in danger? Now you know with detectives totally disrespecting you as a parent, then they can only have ill will for your son.

Soon enough, detectives charge your 17-year-old son with Cultivation of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Two Counts of 1st Degree Murder, and Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile Delinquent. Your son then sits in jail for over 30 days without a court appointed attorney. Acting on a referral, you hire a local private attorney.

When you learn that the State Prosecutor assigned to your son’s case is the son of the local Sheriff (who has jurisdiction over the murder investigation), you know that you have to watch the case very close. You learn that the 1st lead detective just about concluded that there wasn’t enough probable cause to charge your son with the murders. Then you learn that it was the racist detective that you first encountered (who turns out to be a possible reserve deputy) replaces the 1st lead detective. You see where there’s a possibility that this 2nd lead detective forges legal documents that led to your son being charged and arrested. Before you can digest that information, you find out that this 2nd lead detective’s wife is the vice president of a popular bank—they’re longtime family friends of the sheriff’s.

Over the next sixteen months, your son’s private attorney is not passing the numerous “Smell Tests” that you’re placing in front of him. There are certain things that the State Prosecutor is doing/ not doing that just cannot be considered coincidental. Your son’s trial date has been rescheduled four times. Meanwhile, your son’s private attorney never discussing his plan of defense with you or your son; he never deposes the one witness that detectives claimed to have given an incriminating statement about your son; he never discusses the victims’ time of death or their autopsy reports and he never UnSeal’s your son’s cell phone records—all of these key things that will completely exonerate your son. After investing $29560 in your son’s private attorney, you and your son decide to fire him.

Simultaneous to firing your son’s private attorney, you receive a jailhouse phone call from your son. He tells you that he’s being charged with Solicitation to Commit Murder. He tells you that law enforcement officers are saying that he put a hit out on the one witness that supposedly gave an incriminating statement against him. As you’re on the phone with your son, the phone call abruptly disconnects.

When you go to the jailhouse to visit with your son, you learn that he’s in solitary confinement, where he cannot have visitors and he cannot make phone calls. You cannot immediately afford an attorney, so you write to your son and you tell him to go with a court appointed attorney until you can get your finances in order.

Four court appointed attorneys later—two and a half years later, your son—who’s now 19-years-old, remains in the county jail without a sworn incriminating statement against him; without any physical, material, or circumstantial evidence against him.

The State Prosecutor is refusing to allow the Medical Examiner’s Office to release the victims’ autopsy reports into public record. Both you and your son remain in the dark about the victims’ time of death. Your son’s current court appointed attorney refuses to file the necessary court documents to have the victims’ autopsy reports made public record, as well as seek the disclosure of other vital information that can help immediately exonerate your son.

You’ve already filed a complaint against your son’s former private attorney with The Florida Bar—who is an official arm of the Supreme Court, charged with administering a statewide disciplinary system to enforce Supreme Court professional rules of conduct—however, their response is that they didn’t find where the attorney violated any of the rules of professional conduct. You begin to think that maybe The Florida Bar is treating you like a stepchild because you’re not the actual client. You encourage your son to file a complaint with The Florida Bar—his complaint is mostly ignored.

Now you, as a parent, start to feel hopeless about the county judicial system. You don’t have another lump sum of money to invest in another attorney—especially when The Florida Bar turns a blind-eye to a lawyer’s obvious unethical behavior. The Florida Ethics Commission says that there’s no existence of “natural bias” where the State Prosecutor is the son of the Sheriff. Regardless as to how obvious it is that the State Prosecutor is trying to cover up the mess made by his dad’s detectives for failing to properly investigate the double murder case—and then hastily arresting your son. You ask yourself, “Where do you go? What do you do?” You begin to feel frustrated! Your son has been in solitary confinement now for almost 300 days. The only time you get to see him is when he has a court date. You haven’t talked to him since… Now, as a God fearing parent, you have to reach deep down into your soul and revitalize your Spirit, after all that’s why God filled you with it!

You decide to write to the governor (again). You can’t write to the judge because the judge is not passing the “Smell Test” either. In your letter to the governor, you tell him all that you’ve told him before—but this time you tell him that you feel as if the judge presiding over your son’s case is not protecting your son’s Constitutional Rights.

A month later, at your son’s next court date, unbeknowest to you, there’s a new judge assigned to your son’s case. In addition to the new judge on his case, for the first time in 2 ½ years there’s been legal documents filed to show that your son has a legal defense. You check your son’s case file and you see that there was a Defendant’s Witness List and three Motions in Limine filed on his behalf. One of the Motions in Limine filed (Motion in Limine (Someone Else Committed the Offense)) is in regards to the same information that your son had planned to tell detectives 2 ½ years earlier. It’s information that your son’s previous attorneys were aware of from the start. Information that you learned the victims’ mother and other family members had told detectives just a few hours after the victims’ bodies had been found in the family’s townhouse.

The information: Within 48 hours of the victims being found murdered, the best friend of the female victim had posted on Facebook that she had a hit out on her (the female victim). The two young women had been doing a lot of arguing back and forth because the female victim owed the best friend and her best friend’s mother money for rent. A month earlier, the female victim had moved in with her best friend and her best friend’s mother—the living arrangements didn’t work out. The female victim moved out and refused to pay the rent owed. (The female victim had only been back in her mother’s townhouse a couple of days before the murders.) Within 48 hours of the victims’ bodies being found, the female victim, along with other friends and family members, went over to the now ex-best friend’s house to fight over the numerous threats that had been exchanged over Facebook. Within 48 hours of the victims’ bodies being found, as they were all packed into a car headed to fight her once best friend, the female victim warned her family members and friends not to go up to the girl’s house because her mama has a gun.

According to detectives reports, on January 27, 2011 as detectives were still processing the crime scene, the once best friend—the young woman who’d recently had a highly charged confrontation with the female victim, showed up at the crime scene distraught. Detectives suggested that she go to the sheriff’s office and give a statement. (The location of the crime scene, the sheriff’s office and the best friend’s residence are all located within about a five mile radius.) At the sheriff’s office, the young woman did not deny making the threats or any of the other issues surrounding the facts that there were clearly issues between the three of them (her, her mother and the female victim) over money.
Despite having a number of witnesses who’d read the back and forth threats between the female victim and the best friend (including your son), detectives allowed the ex-best friend to retain her cell phone and leave the sheriff’s office. When detectives learned that there may have been at least 15 people total involved in the confrontation between the best friend and the female victim, instead of detectives seeking the best friend’s mother’s gun, using fabricated information, they obtain a court order for your son’s cell phone records and to have your son GPS tracked by his cell phone via his cell phone carrier. When your son’s cell phone records don’t give weight to detectives’ theory (whatever it may be), they obtain another court order to have your son’s cell phone records Sealed. And when detectives locate your son—they don’t approach him right away. They watch him get into the backseat of a vehicle with a young child and another male; getting in the front seat was a female and a male. Detectives follow the vehicle and then initiate a traffic stop. During the traffic stop they make everyone get out of the vehicle. They ask your son if he wants to come to the sheriff’s office to give a statement—when your son tells them no—they take photos of your son’s shoes and allows him to go on with the other occupants with exception of one. (One of the males had an outstanding warrant for non-payment of child support.) All of these events occur on the same day the victims’ bodies were found.

Unfortunately, for sheriff’s detectives, the two young victims were both in debt to others for more than $300. The sixteen-year-old brother tells detectives that his brother (male victim) had been given $400 in fake money by an adult male to purchase drugs. The plan the adult male had was for them to resell the drugs and split the money.

The male victim’s best friend (a thirteen-year-old male) tells detectives that within 48 hours of the victims being found murdered, he and the male victim were talking—he said that the male victim told him that he owed someone some money and he seemed to be very worried about it. The best friend also tells detectives that the male victim had been threatened by 20 or more other male youths—so much so—that his uncle (the best friend’s) had to keep the boys from fighting him (the male victim). Lastly, the best friend asks detectives if they’d found the male victim’s gun. When detectives ask what gun—that means that they had not found it. The best friend tells detectives that the male victim had in his possession a gun—a .38 caliber gun. When detectives ask him where the gun could be located, the best friend gave them several possible locations—one being the male victim’s residence and another being in his (the best friend’s) grandmother’s backyard where he himself lived. Instead of detectives going to speak with the best friend’s grandmother, they called her and ask her to look for the gun and to give them a call back. The grandmother never calls detectives back. When detectives call the grandmother back, she tells them that she had not found the gun. (Note: the male victim had a history of physically beating up this best friend. Why would a grandmother want to voluntarily turn a gun over to detectives that could possibly be involved in a double murder investigation of an older teenage boy who repeatedly beat up her grandson?)

A thirty-eight caliber gun…

Detectives told judges, possibly the grand jury, the media, and the community that it was your son’s 9 mm pistol that was responsible for murdering the two victims. But the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Firearms Section clearly states in its laboratory reports that the two projectiles pulled from each of the victim’s heads (they’d been shot in the head 2 times each) are from that of 38/357 class firearm. (The firearm that has not been recovered.)

Within a few hours after finding the victims, their mother and other family members tells detectives that their residence had been recently burglarized—more than once. The mother tells detectives that her son (male victim) identified the burglar as his 16-year-old male friend. The mother tells detectives that her son (male victim) told her that while he was asleep, the 16-year-old male friend some kind of way entered into their residence. When he awoke, the friend was standing over him. Detectives are told that the male friend and the male victim had also recently gotten into a physical fight. The victims’ mother provides detectives with the contact name and number for the 16-year-old male’s mother. Apparently, detectives never make contact with the male friend’s mother. A few months after the murders, the male friend (who’d turned 17-years-old) was arrested for assaulting someone with a gun. Despite this 17-year-old male’s extensive juvenile record, his assault with a gun charge is left in the juvenile court division—where the details about the assault—including what type of gun was used are confidential.

Now with a new judge on your son’s case, your curiosity level peaks—you need to know what, if anything, did the judge actually do or did not do—other than allow the sheriff’s son (state prosecutor) and your son’s former private attorney to allow shenanigans to go on in his courtroom. You immediately learn that you were right! The judge did fail to protect your son’s Constitutional Rights. You learn that not only did the judge fail to protect your son’s Constitutional Rights, but the judge actively participated in violating your son’s Constitutional Rights.

After thanking God for giving you the wisdom to see all of discrepancies in your son’s case—now what do you do? You still don’t trust criminal defense attorneys. You have spoken directly to the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement about your concerns of corruption involving those in authority. However, the FBI and the FDLE tells you that they can’t get involved until the legal case against your son is over.

No, it’s not your son–it’s my son. There’s a motion filed showing where someone else likely committed the murders, but the judge has scheduled to take up that motion almost two months out (mid-August 2013). Meanwhile, my son’s 20th birthday is coming up—it’ll be his 3rd birthday for him to have spent in jail. Because there’s no widespread community outpour—my news media contacts are falling flat. I know that I have a story to tell—but seemingly no one wants to be the first to break the news.

Why?

“Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere.” —MLK Jr.