Previously Harold wanted Morgan & Morgan to represent him, but that may have undermined his case. Morgan & Morgan refused to help Harold, and I was unable to find any lawyer to assist Harold, as discussed in the 911 call. Twenty-six years ago I had a legal case against Ryan Christopher Rodems, a Florida lawyer who now works for Morgan & Morgan.
Harold was age 63 on January 2, 2025, and had End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD). Harold needed kidney dialysis three times a week to stay alive. The Marion County Jail provides kidney dialysis in its medical unit to inmates in the jail who need dialysis.
Harold was released from the Florida Department of Corrections on September 8, 2024, with the clothes on his back and a $50 debit card. Antonio Ramirez was Harold's probation officer.
Prior to his release, the Department of Corrections prepared a Pre-Release Planing Program for Harold dated August 26, 2024, with a referral to Catholic Charities in Gainesville for housing. The referral noted "housing is critical". Harold was also given a referral to the Marion County Health Department for food stamps, medical care, housing, transportation, and Social Security.
Susan Frizzell of Catholic Charities, the program coordinator for HOPWA, was unresponsive to my many attempts to contact her on Harold's behalf. Harold initially stayed in Dunnellon at a group home with other men where the rent was paid for by the state. This home was in a remote location on an unpaved road with no public transportation. The home was not disability compliant. There was a flight of stairs to enter the home. Harold often used a wheelchair. And Harold was being beaten by younger men in the home.
The home was 18 miles from the hospital where Harold went for kidney dialysis. The folks at DaVita Kidney Center would not provide transportation either, but said to call an ambulance each time Harold needed a ride to the hospital for kidney dialysis, which is mandated by law because dialysis is a life-saving treatment. So the Marion County Fire Rescue became Harold's transportation, at public expense. Last week a lady in the billing department told me rates for an ambulance ride to the hospital varied according to the level of care, and ranged from $775 per trip to $1,650 per trip, plus $17 per mile. So the mileage charge alone cost $306 for a 18 mile ride to the hospital, each way. So the minimum charge would be $1,081 each way, and $2,162 round trip. Three trips a week would cost about $6,500.
Harold was initially arrested in Marion County Florida in June 2020 when he failed to stop when a deputy noticed his vehicle did not have a license plate attached. Harold was incarcerated for a little over 4 years. Like I said earlier, when Harold was released, he only had the cloths on his back, and a $50 debit card from the state. When I took Harold to surrender on January 2nd, he was homeless. A case manager at West Marion Hospital told me the county was somehow blocking Harold in his effort to reintegrate into society. Based on fact that Morgan & Morgan refused to help Harold, I concluded that attorney Ryan Christoper Rodems might behind this obstruction, and my efforts to help Harold were counterproductive. I explained to Harold that this lawyer's vendetta against me was likely harming him, which is why Morgan & Morgan would not assist him, and he was essentially blacklisted. Harold had an appointment with Social Security scheduled for January 30, 2025 for his End Stage Renal Disease application, but he was arrested the day before, on January 29, 2025 and was in jail by then.
After the Marion County Sheriff refused to take Harold into custody on January 2, 2025, he remained in violation for 27 days until he was arrested on January 29, 2025. For 27 days Harold was on the street. For 27 days Harold incurred medical costs ultimately paid by the taxpayer, perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospital stays and ambulance rides, just to later throw him in jail anyway. Marion County Sheriff Woods was reckless and put the public in danger by failing to arrest a sexual predator who tried to surrender on January 2, 2025.
So listen to my 911 call and let me know what you think. I will be posting a related video with footage of Harold, some of which is already online, video of me with Harold at Ocala Regional Hospital, and Advent Health Hospital. By the way, I am 70 years old and fund Justice Network from my Social Security retirement income. I welcome donations to Justice Network through PayPal. Thank you.
Letter July 21, 2025 to Hon. Robert W. Hodges, Circuit Judge, Marion County Judicial Center
RE: State of Florida v. Harold Minnis, Case No. 2025-CF-0383
Your Honor:
Please find enclosed a transcript of my 911 call January 2, 2025 in this case to be included in the record. I am Neil J. Gillespie, a nonlawyer advocate d/b/a Justice Network. Harold Minnis was a client of mine. I am a material witness in this matter. On January 2, 2025 I drove Harold Minnis to the Marion County Jail to surrender because he was homeless and unable to report a change of address, because he had no address; Harold was homeless and living on the street.
Unfortunately the Marion County Jail refused to accept Harold, so I reported this as an emergency call to 911. Previously I provided this information to Harold's pubic defender, Tracya N Smith, Florida Bar No. 1027725, but got no response. The docket for State v. Minnis, case no. 2025-CF-0383, maintained by Gregory Harrell, Clerk and Comptroller, does not show an attorney for Mr. Minnis. The docket shows "Bar ID 88888888" by Harold's name.
In my view, if a suspect surrenders to law enforcement, as Harold Minnis did on January 2, 2025, law enforcement has a duty to take him into custody. But law enforcement refused to incarcerate Mr. Minnis. I am willing to testify at trial for the defense. The State was reckless and put the public in danger by failing to incarcerate Mr. Minis as he requested. Separately, for 27 days Harold Minnis incurred medical costs ultimately paid by the taxpayer, perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospital stays and ambulance rides, just to later throw him in jail anyway. (continued)
