Advocates Call for Review in Case Involving Survivor of Sexual Violence
Palatka, FL — Advocates, community members, and supporters are calling for urgent review in the case of 23-year-old transwoman Mathew Temael, also known as Dandelion, who has been incarcerated at the Putnam County Jail since 2023 following an incident in which it is alleged that she had stood her groundin self-defense against Louis Stackhouse III, a convicted pedophile who had repeatedly sexuallyassaulted her.
As the Florida State Attorney’s Office threatening Dandelion with the death sentence, supporters say the case raises serious concerns about how the Florida criminal justice system continues a double standard of criminalizing survivors of sexual violence while protecting sex offenders, particularly when claims of self-defense and prior abuse are involved.
Mathew Temael was arrested and charged in the death of 70-year-old convicted child rapist, trafficker and pedophile Louis Stackhouse III. To ensure a fair trial, supporters are demanding that the State Attorney’s Office does not withhold evidence that will allow the jury to consider the full context of trauma, coercion, and immediate threat experienced by Dandelion prior to the alleged murder of Louis Stackhouse III.
“Survivors of sexual assault do not deserve the death penalty. They deserve to have their lived experiences fully understood within the legal process,” said one member of the Free Mathew Temael Legal Defense Committee. “If it is alleged that a rape survivor stands their ground out of fear for their life, that context cannot be ignored.”
Advocates are Demanding the Office Of The State Attorney R.J. Larizza, 7th Judicial Circuit to:
● Drop all charges
● Conduct a thorough, transparent, and trauma-informed review of all the evidence provided in the
case
● Present all evidence related to prior sexual assault and self-defense is fully presented to the court
The case highlights broader concerns about the systemic barriers that all sexual assault and domestic violence survivors face in getting favorable rulings and protection from the criminal justice system.
Community members are encouraged to express their concerns and call for a fair review prior to her May
14th pre-trial hearing by writing letters of support to:
1-B Putnam County Courthouse
410 St. Johns Avenue
Palatka, Florida 32177
Circuit Court, County Court
State Attorney, General Magistrate t
Community members are also asked to support by appearing at her trial, to be held at the Putnam County
Courthouse beginning May 14 at 1:30pm.
Media Contact: Free Mathew Temael Legal Defense Committee | mdtdefensecommittee@protonmail.com
4/27/26*
Have you ever been in a vulnerable moment? A dangerous one even? A moment where you really needed a warrior, a helper, a friend? These are the times when Dandelion always shows up, often in a flowing skirt with ribbons, billowing brightly in the sun. From coast to coast, dnn answers the call of those most in need. As a trans neuroexpansive indigenous migrant, she knows what it’s like to be targeted, attacked, & assaulted, yet she never acts out of fear for herself, only out of deep love for others.
That is why Dandelion has been accused of unaliving the man who raped her, Louis Stackhouse. Unlike our caring, brave Dandelion, Louis Stackhouse is an entitled white man, convicted child rapist, known trafficker, predator, and overall abuser who lived in the middle of a white supremacist controlled region of Florida. Rather than celebrate the removal of a known pedophile,
the State of Florida is trying to pin this courageous act on dnny. After 3 years of torture in Putnam County Jail, the State wants to start the process of giving Dandelion the death penalty on May 14th with pretrial.
It is up to us as kind caring humans left on this incredible Earth to stop them. We must resist. Share this information with everyone you know who still has an open heart and mind: friends, family, independent news outlets, social media. Share everywhere. dnny’s life depends on it. Write to the Clerk of Circuit in Putnam County FL to let them know how much we love dandelion, how much her presence in our communities means to us, that the charges should be dropped, and that they need to be freed immediately! This is the only way to reach the judge who has the power to dismiss the case. If you have any personal stories about how Dandelion has helped you or people you love, include that as well. 2509 Crill Ave, Palatka, FL 32177.
You can also add funds directly to Dnny’s commissary using her legal name, Mathew Temael and ID#23001768 on this site below:
https://web.connectnetwork.com/facilities/putnam-county-fl/
If folks would like to write to her directly, you can reach her on smartinmate.com. She is unable to
accept books or physical mail. You’ll have to register on the site and purchase credits to speak to
her there.
smartinmate.com
Mathew Temael #23001768
FL – Putnam County Jail
May all oppressed people be free.
Submitted Anonymously
*ADMIN NOTE: This submission was received in May, but we missed it. We sincerely apologize for this oversight. Therefore, the information provided may not be the most up-to-date.
Additionally, we were unsure as admins whether certain submitted materials were intended to be published. Some of the submitted material has been omitted in consideration of Dandelion’s legal situation. Additionally, we do not have explicit consent from Dandelion to publish. This was a difficult decision to make, but we made it out of careful consideration with the information provided.
