The following is an open letter to Florida State Senator Rosalind Osgood from Ronald W. Clark Jr, incarcerated at UCI in Raiford FL. Mr. Clark has asked that this letter be shared widely, so that this instance — and general pattern — of retaliation can be understood and addressed.

Senator Osgood has supported the needs of people incarcerated in Florida in the past. Those interested can follow up with Sen Osgood and other representatives.

This letter has been lightly edited, with the author’s permission: Alternations are restricted to punctuation; no content has been changed,

Retaliation Planted Contraband (RAZORBLADE) in my cell.

Date: December 14, 2025

HISTORY

On Tuesday October 28, 2025 I came in from morning recreation to learn that we were to be in class A uniform. I asked why, but wasn’t given an answer. When day room began at approximately noon, our Dayroom officer Co Barton informed us that Captain Sapp P-dorms captain was requiring us to be in Class A from 8 am until 5pm. I informed him that it’s being incorrectly applied and quoted the rule 33-602.101(2). I stated Captain Sapp is misapplying it, and explained that Regional Director John Palmer who I’ve known for over three decades has straightened this out two other times.

I went down to the phone and called my wife who runs French Coalition Against The Death Penalty to inform her what was taking place. She said, as I knew she would, that she would straighten it out. Captain Sapp would come on the wing during my second phone call to her. I got off the phone to speak with him. This was my first meeting with Captain Sapp. I addressed the misapplication of the rule, I spoke on Mr Palmer and how he had straightened it out before.

I then addressed the Dayroom and the Breach in the Settlement Agreement, where staff had just cut us back to the bare minimum 3 hours a day in breach of paragraph 25. I’m quoting this from memory because I’ve written about it so much. That impressed them. Co Barton chimed in and said: He knows too much, then went on to say, “HE’S THE KIND YOU PLANT A SHANK IN HIS CELL.” I took it in jest as a joke.

When I got back on the phone with my wife, I gave Captain Sapp some praise giving him the benefit of the doubt. I also told her what Co Barton had said about planting a shank in my cell.

The next day Wednesday October 29, 2025 Captain Sapp came down the catwalk to my cell and informed me that Class A uniforms are not required. I later learned that he didn’t go to any other wing or cell but mine.

The next day they retaliated and only gave us two and a half hours of Dayroom. I filed Informal Grievance log #213-2510-0758 and Formal Grievance log #2511-213-136 where Captain Sapp had his Dayroom officer Co Paulk violate the terms of this Settlement Agreement as reprisal over the conversation two days before. Please request a copy of those grievances from the FDOC. My wife can also provide you with copies of the Notice of Breach of Settlement Agreement. You can also request a copy of those 3 phone calls from that day.

On November 9, 2025 I also filed A NOTICE OF BREACH in the United States District Court under Case No.: 3:17-cv-820-MMH-PDB

Captain Sapp, frustrated with an inmate like me, would take Co Barton’s advice, but instead of a shank, he did a razorblade which has the same result with a weapons charge that puts me on Heightened Security and no longer eligible for Dayroom.

For at approximately 10:00 am Friday December 12, 2025 there was a major cell search taking place throughout UCI P-dorm Death Row housing due to a real street “POCKET KNIFE” being found in a death row cell on 3 wing. The only way it could have gotten in this building is through an officer. Staff was spread out on dozens of wings during this search, but Captain Sapp made it a point to not only be on the wing I was housed on, but to be standing there in front of my cell. I was standing facing the bars away from what was taking place behind me, as the two officer’s that I have never seen before, were searching my cell.

They placed me back in my cell 5214 and left. I began cleaning up, when Sgt Manning P- Dorms Administrative Sgt came to my cell front, with Co Lewis, who were both mentioned in my Notice Of Settlement Agreement Breach. They told me to get dressed. I asked where I was going. They said, 4111 Disciplinary Confinement. I said “for what?” They said, “We don’t know.” When getting into my new cell 4111, Michael Bargo, who is housed in cell 4112 informed me that I’m down here for a razor blade. He heard staff saying that. At approximately 1:00 pm I was moved by Co Adkins from cell 4111 to 4118. I asked why I was down here, he said razor blade. He said, “you’re being moved because someone was found with something more serious.”

CONCLUSION

The only way I can prove my innocence is by having a DNA presence test done on that razorblade. Understand: staff wears gloves when searching or coming into contact with any item that an inmate has held, and a razor is especially something they would not physically come into skin on skin contact with due to possible blood presence. So only DNA presence will be the person that handled that. My family and attorneys since this does effect my legal case, will pay for the DNA testing to show that I never had any contact with this razorblade.

Several years back I met with Senator Pizzo and Brandes, if you’re willing I will gladly meet with you. I’ll open your eyes to other issues going on in here where staff placed two inmates on the wing with knives to have them stab and kill Matthew Caylor, another inmate stepped in and disarmed them. Staff continued to make life a living hell for Caylor until he committed suicide several months ago. Which was also the case with Donald Davidson in 2022. I will gladly give you information on both of those suicides, and so much more corruption that’s taking place inside and out. I know more than the average inmate. And I’m not afraid of them, which is why Captain Sapp has done this. For they hate an inmate that doesn’t know his place and that they can’t bully into submission.

I hope and pray that you can assist me with getting the evidence secured for DNA testing, and that you will meet with me.

I have more information than what’s in this complaint.

Thank you for your time and hopefully your help.

Sincerely

Ronald W. Clark Jr.