Leon County Sheriffs Office in Tallahassee, FL has done it again. They have failed to properly investigate a crime and as a result an innocent man has been sent to prison for 10 years. My little brother Jacari Campbell is 21 years-old and he has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a crime that even his trial judge had doubts about his guilt. Jacari Campbell is regarded by all that know him as a fun loving and respectful young man that spent much of his free time training to play college football. Up until his arrest in October of 2012, Jacari was a student at Tallahassee Community College; he was just one semester from earning his Associates degree. Jacari had never been in legal trouble before; he had no history of violence, fights or physical encounters beyond the football field. He had a spotless record with all of his former employers; he was respected within his community and an active member of his church.

As with all of us, Jacari was not a perfect young man, the events leading up to the crime demonstrates that he was a typical young college student. Jacari’s alleged involvement in the crime began the previous Monday, when he was invited to the home of co-worker, Eugene Cole to watch the Monday night football game. Also in attendance was Cole’s roommate Willmore Stuart.  If all three young men watched the entire game, they would have spent approximately 3 hours together in Cole and Stuart’s home. This is important because less than six days later, Stuart would tell police at the scene that the person who held him at gunpoint was a stranger whom he had never seen before.

According to Jacari, on October 6 he and his roommate were planning a night out to attend to attend a couple of parties. As a prelude, Jacari stated that he called Cole to purchase marijuana from him. Cole told Jacari that he was out of town and unsure of when he would return. In court, Cole would later testify that he believed that Jacari was calling to make sure he was away. Jacari states that he attended two parties that night and was at the second during the time the robbery would have taken place. Three witnesses to Jacari’s presence at the second party signed affidavits, but were never called to testify. The robbery occurred sometime between 2 and 3 a.m. , and is very sketchy. Stuart is said to have been in the house alone with just his girlfriend, Brittany Hamilton, when a noise of someone breaking in woke them both; no other housemates were there at the time. According to Ms. Hamilton, the residence was completely dark, no lights were turned on, and while Stuart went to investigate the noise, she went into a closet to dial 911.

At the center of the trial, Willmore Stuart proved to be anything but reliable. He contradicts Ms. Hamilton stating the lights were on and initially, he doesn’t identify Jacari to police, his girlfriend or his housemate Cole. Later, when Eugene Cole returns, he questions Stuart and asks for a description, which Cole believes matches that of his co-worker Jacari. He shows Stuart Jacari’s Facebook profile, but Stuart is still unsure. Sometime later that day, Cole and Stuart decide to go to Jacari’s residence to confront him. After a brief conversation with Jacari, Jacari's roommate, and with the urging of Cole, Stuart is now convinced that Jacari was the unmasked gunman. Stuart also claimed that there was a second robber in the house that night, a large man who stood 6’ 1” or 6’ 2” and weighed about 300 pounds; the man never confronts him and spends the entire time ransacking the rest of the home. This man has never been found. In addition, Stuart suggests that he brought the gunman an iPad, a laptop and a set of Beats headphone, while the gunman continued to hold on to the gun. Stuart finally claims that he was able to slam his bedroom shut, pressing his body against it, but the robbers made no attempt to re-enter the room and continued to search the home. Here are other key facts around the case:

• -The gunman did not wear a mask or gloves.
• -Several of the items in question were dropped outside the apartment.
• -Neither Jacari’s fingerprints nor DNA was found on those items or at the scene.
• -The witnesses who could place Jacari at the party were never called to testify.
• -There is no record of Jacari even owning, possessing, or purchasing a gun before that night.
• -None of the stolen articles was found in Jacari’s possession.
• -Jacari goes willingly to the police station to answer questions.
• -Jacari does not invoke his rights.
• -Jacari does not bring an attorney.
• -Jacari is arrested on the spot.
• -The police did not test or investigate the location of the stolen items which possessed location software.

Some things to consider:

• -Why does a young man with no criminal record commit armed robbery for no apparent reason?
• -Why did it take Stuart so long to identify Jacari?

There was no reasonable doubt in this case. The jury ignored the lack of evidence, never heard from Jacari’s alibi witnesses, or Jarcari and despite the obvious serious contradictions in Wilmore Stuart’s accounts, they believed him, and it was never questioned. Jacari Campbell was sentenced to ten years in prison. 

Tell Leon County Sheriffs Office to re-open this case. Find the real robbers. Sentence them to prison. Jacari was also an athlete, and student who deserves the same justice as they have given the high profile college athletes. Please help me to provide freedom for Jacari by signing my petition.