Hello, Neil Gillespie here for Justice Network. The case of Harold Minnis and Sarah Thompson shows prosecutorial misconduct cuts both ways. First, State Attorney William Gladson wrongly prosecuted Harold Minnis for an address violation after he tried to surrender. Second, in the case of convicted drug trafficker Matthew Smith, Gladson made Smith a sweetheart deal on February 17, 2021: 188 days time served and probation for trafficking in 10.66 grams of fentanyl. In 2020 Smith faced a mandatory minimum of 3 years in prison and a $50,000 fine under Fla. Stat. 893.135. In 2026 the minimum is now 7 years in prison. Less than three months later on May 12, 2021 Sarah Thompson died of a drug overdose in Smith's motel room at the Stay and Save Extended Stay Hotel. This was not reported by the local news media. Not reported by the Ocala Star-Banner. Not reported by the Ocala Gazette. Not reported by the Ocala News. However, the Ocala News did reported the arrest of Sarah Thompson on drug charges on February 13, 2020. The Ocala News reported Sarah Thompson was a passenger in a white Ford station wagon that was pulled over for having a stolen tag. The story failed to identify Matt Smith as the driver of the car.
Harold Minnis, a black man, was sent to prison for a year on a bogus charge. Harold tried to surrender on January 2nd, 2025, but Billy Woods waited 27 days to take him into custody. Sarah Thompson, a white female, had her drug case dropped by Brad King, the former state attorney. Then King handed the 2020 election for state attorney to his protégée, Bill Gladson. Brad King is now a judge in Marion County, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis. Matt Smith, a white man, got six months in jail on his drug trafficking case where the mandatory minimum was three years in prison. Then less than three months later, Sarah Thompson died of a drug overdose in Smith's room at the Stay and Save Hotel. No arrest was made in Sarah's death.
Harold Minnis currently lives in Umatilla. His address is approved by the State of Florida and is a public record. But in 2024, the State wrongly refused to accept this address, leading to Harold's wrongful arrest, wrongful conviction, and one-year prison sentence.
