VOLUSIA EXPOSED

"Give A Man A Mask And He'll Tell You The Truth" ~ Oscar Wilde

State Attorney's
Dirty Little Secret

According to a former Brevard assistant state attorney (ASA) John Toppa has been arrested for the second time.

As detailed in our - Toppa was first arrested in March 2017 under the charges of purchasing and possessing illegal drugs.

Toppa's recent arrest has to do with allegations that he took a bribe - and provided criminal defendants with inside information regarding their criminal prosecutions.

The attached twenty (20) page FDLE investigative report alleges that ASA Toppa initally received a $1000.00 bribe to "fix" a DUI prosecution for criminal defendant - Azrael Stivers. (see right of page --->)

The FDLE investigation obtained cell phone text messages in support of their conclusion that ASA Toppa had taken the bribe.

Is This Proof Positive That Closed Door Deals Are Alive And Well Within The State Attorney's Office?

With a $1000.00 bribe in his pocket - ASA Toppa had one immediate problem - he was NOT the assigned ASA to Mr. Stivers' prosecution.

Interestingly, Mr. Toppa had enough of a comfort level to reach out to ASA Ray Shackelford - who was the assigned ASA in Mr. Stiver's case. Apparently, per, the FDLE report - Toppa gave Shackelford a "cock and bull" story that Stiver's mother was his (Toppa) father's nurse - as his father dealt with a terminal illness. Toppa inquired whether Shackelford could offer Stiver a sweeter plea bargain - such as no probation, etc. (see pages 18-19 of the Affidavit For Arrest Warrant - above right).

While Shackelford (after consultation with his supervisor) allegedly advised Toppa that he would NOT waive criminal probation in Mr. Stivers' case - it is of interest, that in the end - court records indicate that Mr. Stivers was NOT sentenced to probation. (more on this later - within this article)

Odd Request Or
Standard Office Practice?

While the FDLE Affidavit states (see page 19) that both ASA Shackelford and his supervisor found Toppa's request for a lighter prosecution of Stivers to be "odd" - there are no indicators that either Shackelford or his supervisor took further actions - that would have lead to an investigation into Toppa's "odd" interest.

In fact - no further action appears to have been taken to address Toppa's "odd" request - until after Toppa's initial arrest on drug charges ultimately uncovered evidence that supported Toppa's bribery charge.

The State Attorney's Office's delay in addressing Toppa's "odd" behavior has opened the agency up to a critical review by this organization (VolusiaExposed.Com) - which ultimately leads us to question whether such "prosecutorial favors" are really that uncommon - and at all "odd" - within the State Attorney's Office?

We actually opine the converse - that in reality such "prosecutorial favors" within the Eighteen (18) Judicial Circuit (Brevard & Seminole counties) are handed out like candy on Halloween.

Now, allow us to defend our opinion. (Read on)

What VolusiaExposed.Com Found Odd

Odd - ASA Shackelford's Employment With The FDLE

Again - referring to pages 18-19 of the FDLE Affidavit - it states that ASA Ray Shackelford was employed by the Brevard County State Attorney's Office from September 2013 to May 2017. According to Florida Bar records (see above right ) - shortly after ASA Toppa's initial March 2017 arrest (drug charges) - ASA Shackelford departed his employment within the State Attorney's Office. What we found to be a little odd is that Mr. Shackelford is now employed as an attorney for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement - the exact same law enforcement agency that arrested Toppa for taking a bribe.(see upper right of page).

Isn't it "odd" that the FDLE affidavit never identifies Shackelford as an FDLE employee?

Odd - The Appearance That Defendant Azreal Stivers Received His Bribe Induced Plea Bargain

VolusiaExposed secured a copy of . According to our understanding of this court record - Stivers did secure the desired legal outcome he hoped his bribe would provide him - no probation and adjudication withheld.

VolusiaExposed would like to report that we were surprised that Stivers was able to secure his bribe induced plea bargain - but sadly - we are not surprised - especially given the Brevard State Attorney's Office long history of engaging in similar prosecutorial misconduct.

Odd - The State Attorney's Past History Of Prosecutorial Misconduct

As covered in our - we reported a 2014 incident involving Brevard Judge John C. Murphy.

During an open court hearing - Judge Murphy was alleged to have physically battered an assistant public defender (APD) after the APD refused to waive his clients' U.S. Constitutional right to a speedy trial. (see attached video -->)

Brevard Judge John C. Murphy vs. Assistant Public Defender
Andrew Weinstock

Judge Murphy was not done violating the U.S. Constitution - after the removal of the APD Andrew Weinstock from the courtroom - Judge Murphy illegally held hearings (defendents having no legal representation) - in which he obtained some of the desired speedy trial waivers directly from the criminal defendants. Both judicial actions being direct violations of the sixth (6th) amendment (speedy trial / right to legal representation).

What is significant - and clearly observable within the attached courtroom video - is that neither of the two assistant state attorneys present during Judge Murphy's illegal hearings attempted to stop Judge Murphy by reminding him that these criminal defendants were NOT represented by legal counsel - as is required by the U.S. Constitution.

As covered in our the Florida Supreme Court removed Judge Murphy from the bench - but not after both local court officials and the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) had recommended that Judge Murphy be allowed to remain on the bench. Which supports our position that local officials and the JQC have a rather high tolerance for prosecutorial and judicial misconduct. Why - well in our opinion they (local officials and the JQC) are actively participating in such corrupt practices - therefore their high tolerance for official misconduct.

Decades Of Misconduct Haunt The Brevard County State Attorney's Office

If you are having a hard time believing our commentary and allegations regarding the State Attorney's Office (SAO) - a simple GOOGLE search will produce numerous articles from mainstream media outlets that will support that corruption within the Brevard County State Attorney's Office is not anything new. Their (Brevard County SAO) misconduct tenacles are known to reach back to at least the 1980s. The below web links are just a few examples of what is available.

News flash - today's SAO is as - if not more corrupt than it was in the 1980's. They (SAO) are just more high tech in expoliting their corrupt practices - and in the means in which they silence their critics. A good example of this - is the recent criminal prosecution of child advocate - and web magazine editor, Dana Delaney Loyd.

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A Deep River Of Corruption
Runs Through Brevard's Justice System

Was The Dana Loyd Debacle A "Prosecutorial Favor"?

As is our name sake - we, VolusiaExposed.Com came into existence with the goal of exposing corruption within Volusia County, Florida. And while Volusia County has it fair share of corruption - Volusia's corruption practitioners are like kindergartners with water colors - when compared with the Picassos, Rembrandts and da Vincis that reside and practice the art of corruption within Brevard County, Florida.

The Masters Of Corruption most recent masterpiece - is their Mona Lisa frame up prosecution of child advocate & web magazine editor, Dana Delaney Loyd. ---->

We invite you to read our most recent regarding the Loyd Debacle - and further invite you to read our other twenty plus earlier articles written since Loyd's August 2015 arrest by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. ----->

It's our opinion - that Dana Loyd was NOT arrested and prosecuted for making an alleged false call to the Florida Abuse Hotline - but rather she was arrested and prosecuted for her critical web articles which highlighted the corrupt practices within the Brevard County criminal justice system. Have doubts - then watch Judge Lemonidis' sentencing of Loyd within our - we suspect any doubts you may have will quickly evaporate as you watch this sentencing video. ---->

We (VolusiaExposed.Com) submit for your consideration - that Dana Loyd's arrest, prosecution and sentencing was an orchestrated "favor" between several Brevard County law enforcement agencies - to include, the Sheriff's Office, the State Attorney's Office and sadly Judge Robin Lemonidis herself - in forwarding the goal of silencing a media critic.

The good news is that our coverage of the Loyd debacle has not gone un-noticed by the mainstream media. We have been contacted by some local and national media outlets expressing an interest in the Loyd matter.

Loyd has a pending probation violation hearing scheduled for February 12, 2018 @ 9AM in Judge Lemonidis' Titusville courtroom.

If you found this article interesting - you may have an interest in the below articles. The government would also prefer you to be ignorant of these matters as well.

Humpty Dumpty Didn't Fall
He Was Pushed !
April 6, 2017
Judge Robin Lemonidis
Sentences Dana Loyd

We look forward to your comments on this situation.
Drop us a line to let us know what you think.

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