New Light Shed On Glisson Lantern Case

SEBRING - In a sworn affidavit, former Assistant State Attorney Joan Hughes stated she bought and paid for a Ray-O-Vac lantern found in the garage of retired Sheriff's Sgt. Sharon Glisson.

An internal investigation sustained allegations of petty theft and misconduct, claiming the belief of investigators that a lantern was taken on Aug. 28, 2007 by Glisson from a growhouse at 3010 Cedora Terrace, in Sebring.

Assuming Hughes statement made under oath is true, the lantern found in the garage could not have come from the growhouse.

"During the time line of events pertinent to this matter, I resided with Sharon Glisson in her home and had full access," Hughes wrote. "During the first week in June, 2007, I was shopping at Lowe's on U.S. Highway 27 in Sebring and purchased a Ray-O-Vac lantern which costs less than $30. I recall it was purchased during the hurricane season tax free campaign designated by the Florida Legislature.

"To my recollection I paid cash for the lantern. I have checked my bank statements which do not show a check or debit purchase from Lowe's.

"Neither Sharon nor I spent much time at home during the period from June through August and I used the lantern very little. I specifically recall using it at night to provide light at the barbecue grill and working around it at various times while it was stored in the garage. The last time I recall seeing it prior to Aug. 29, was when I placed it on the floor in the front part of the garage on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007."

Glisson fired back Friday through her Attorney James W. Kelly, responding to the Internal Affairs investigation and sheriff's news release, who stated she was falsely accused of the crime of petty theft and misconduct.

In a letter dated Dec. 13 to Sheriff Susan Benton, Kelly questioned the allegations against his client made by Det. Daniel Schneider.

"This is a heck of a way for this woman to end a career," said Kelly on Friday. "And this woman did not do what she was accused of."

Kelly's letter included statements questioning Schneider's honesty, based on a background check with a former employer that Kelly found in Schneider's personnel file at Avon Park Police. Schneider was hired by Avon Park police in 2001.

He pointed out that Glisson had tried to have Schneider removed from the Highlands County Drug Task Force because of his work production, prior to the incident.

Those complaints resulted in a counseling session between Schneider and Police Chief Frank Mercurio,
Kelly stated.

On Oct. 12, Glisson resigned from the sheriff's office for medical reasons. Kelly says that Glisson resigned before the internal investigation began. Kelly noted that Sheriff's Maj. Mark Schrader stated she retired during the internal investigation.

"The decision to undertake an internal affairs investigation of a retired officer, especially in this instance, is unique in my experience of representing law enforcement officers for over 30 years," Kelly wrote.

Glisson is permanently and totally disabled with injuries she sustained during the line of duty in her 20-plus years in law enforcement, Kelly stated.

"Her retirement was based upon the advice of her treating physician, who is also the physician for the Sheriff's Department," he wrote.

As the growhouse raid was winding down, Schneider claimed he saw Glisson come out of the house holding something, which he said she put outside by the front door. He reported that he shined his light on the object laying in some bushes and saw it was a lantern.

Schneider reported he went back inside the house and when he went back outside the lantern was not there. He later claimed the lantern was inside Glisson's vehicle. A lantern was also photographed inside Glisson's vehicle that night, according to the internal investigation report.

A lantern was video-taped inside the growhouse, but during Lt. John Chess's investigation it was not inside the unsecured growhouse the next day.

When a criminal investigation was conducted the state attorney's office stated any possible case of petty theft was "unprosecutable," because it could not find a victim (the owner of the lamp).

Glisson spoke with Highlands Today briefly on Friday evening.

She said she had given a full statement to Chess. She said she never saw a lantern in her car and she never took one out or put it in her garage.

"I was sad and devastated that Det. Schneider didn't come to me immediately about his concerns," Glisson said, adding that she felt if he had, all of this could have been avoided.

Glisson became emotional as she discussed how much she loved her work.

"Leaving the force has left a real void," she said. "I will and I have moved on. I've had a lot of people in the community contact me and give me moral support."