VOLUME 4 ISSUE 12
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Pg B2 MARCH 24 - MARCH 30, 2023
Former State Rep. Harding pleads guilty to fraud charges
Gladson talks process for Groveland Four’s exoneration
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
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ormer State Rep. Joe Harding appeared in federal court on March 21 to formally change his plea from not guilty to guilty on several counts related to fraudulently obtaining a pandemic-era Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). Harding, a rising Republican political star from Ocala who resigned the House seat in December following his indictment, is expected to be sentenced on July 25. Harding appeared before District Judge Allen C. Winsor at the Northern District Federal Courthouse in Gainesville with only his attorney, Peg O’Connor, by his side as he was questioned by the judge under oath. Winsor asked Harding about his state of mind and whether anything was impairing his ability to make decisions. He also asked specifically about what his attorney had advised him were the consequences of pleading guilty to felony charges. Those include losing his right to vote, to own a gun, and to hold certain licenses. Harding stated that he understood the consequences. The judge then explained to Harding what the burden of proof would be for the government for each of the three counts of wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements. He asked Harding on each count, “If this case went to trial, would the state be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt your guilt?” For each count, Harding answered, “Yes.” Originally, duplicate counts were brought against Harding related to two entities for which he had applied for EIDL loans: The Vak Shack, Inc., an agricultural supply business in Williston, and Harding See Sentencing, page A4
Clockwise from top left: This box held the original evidence of the case. At the top is written “research for disposal” due to the fact that the case had been closed for several years. Attorney William “Bill” Gladson. These pants belonged to Walter Irvin. They were used to show marks of semen as proof of the alleged rape. The pants were not tested for DNA at the time of either of the trials. In the first trial, the pants were briefly mentioned and in the second trial, the prosecutor addressed the stains as “smears” and acknowledged them in the closing statement as well. The pants were later tested by Gladson during his team’s investigations. No semen was found on the pants, 71 years after they were collected. A manufactured shoe print that was created in Deputy James Yates’ backyard. Investigators were able to conclude this through soil samples they collected from Yates’ backyard and in comparison to where the alleged crime happened. [Supplied]
By Makayla Gray makayla@ocalagaztte.com
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early 75 years ago, one of the most infamous miscarriages of justice took place in Central Florida when four Black men were wrongly accused of sexually assaulting a white teenage girl and beating her husband. Decades later, the record was finally set straight as the men, known as the Groveland Four, were officially pardoned by the State of Florida in 2019. Marion County State Attorney William “Bill” Gladson, whose team uncovered new evidence that led to the criminal case finally being put to rest in 2021, recently spoke about the case in a two-part informational series. During the sessions on March 12 and 19
at Fort King Presbyterian Church in Ocala, Gladson detailed the saga that has inspired numerous TV shows, countless news stories and the 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America,” by Gilbert King. Gladson was joined in the presentation by Aaron Newson, a nephew of Ernest Thomas, one of the Groveland Four. Newson presented some of his own research findings, which said will be included in his book, which he expects to have published in November. The sessions began with an overview of the case and an explanation of Gladson’s involvement. In July 1949, a 17-year-old white girl in Groveland, Lake County, said she and her husband were headed home from a night of dancing when their car broke down and
they were then attacked by four Black men. Her husband reportedly was beaten, and she was taken away and sexually assaulted at gunpoint by the four men. Reports at the time stated the woman told authorities she was able to escape to a diner off County Road 33 where she met the diner owner’s son, Gladson said. The woman reportedly told the man that she was fine. Then-Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall quickly accused four young African American men—Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas—with the crimes. The arrests spurred racial outrage, and within days, an angry mob of more than 1,000 men hunted down Thomas and killed him, riddling his body with more than 400 bullets. The remaining three suspects were put See Overlooked, page A2
Official results are in for special primary election By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
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required audit of the results of the March 7 special election to fill the vacant Florida House District 24 seat has found no irregularities in the voting. A further analysis of the voter demographics, however, sheds light on how pre-election maneuvering favorably set the table for the eventual winner
while closing the voting booth door to many of the Black voters in the district. Ryan Chamberlin, a political activist and business owner, defeated Jose Juarez, Charlie Stone, Stephen Pyles and Justin Albright in the Republican primary. Voter turnout was low, with only 11,098 voting out of the 61,421 registered Republican voters in District 24. The primary was only open to Republicans because of a loophole
that closes primaries upon the filing of a write-in candidate. Robert “Foxy” Fox, a Republican, told the “Gazette” previously he was “duped” by Chamberlin’s campaign manager into filing to run as a write-in candidate. A review of the voter demographics for the district shows the move significantly impacted Black voters. Of the 11,286 Black voters in the district, only 636 are registered as Republicans.
Ultimately, only 38 Black voters participated in the special primary election, according to voter demographic reports provided by the Marion County Supervisor of Elections Office. Of the 11,109 voters who participated in the special primary election, 10,485 were white. Also, voters under the age of 46 who participated in the election only made up 6% of the total votes. Had the primary not been
closed, registered Democrat, Independent and nonparty voters would have outnumbered registered Republicans in the district. However, their only choice would have been which Republican to vote for because there was no Democratic candidate in the race. As for the validation of the primary election, on March 17 the canvassing board—consisting of Marion County Judge Robert See Election, page A2
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