Melissa Kennedy Pleads Guilty

PRESS RELEASE

On July 28, 2016, Melissa Kennedy entered a guilty plea to the charge of Second Degree Murder with a Firearm for the killing of Clifford Lewis which occurred on October 19, 2015. Judge Michael Overstreet sentenced Ms. Kennedy to a mandatory 40 years in prison pursuant to the 10-20-Life law.

Under the 10-20-Life law, Ms. Kennedy must serve this 40 year sentence day to day, with no gain time or early release. Ms. Kennedy is 42 years old and will not be eligible for release until, and unless she reaches the age of 82.

Mr. Lewis’ daughters were supportive of the sentence and expect it will amount to a life sentence for their father’s killer. Because Ms. Kennedy pled guilty, she waives any right to appeal the sentence.

Assistant State Attorney Bob Sombathy was please that the Lewis family will finally have some closure to this stressful ordeal, “I expect that this will amount to a life sentence for this defendant, and for her to forfeit her right to appeal will give the Lewis family some peace of mind.”

Indictment for First Degree Murder

PRESS RELEASE

State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that a Jackson County Grand Jury has returned an indictment for First Degree Murder against Daniel Jacob Craven, Jr., age 30, for killing his cellmate, John H. Anderson, by repeatedly stabbing him with a shank.

The homicide occurred at Graceville Correctional Facility  on June 28, 2015.  It was investigated by Special Agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Inspectors from the Department of Corrections.
Craven is currently incarcerated at Florida State Prison in Raiford, Florida. He will be arraigned on August 2, 2016, before Circuit Judge Shonna Y. Gay.

Nicholas Keith Morris Sentenced for Murder

July 29, 2016

For Immediate Release

According to the State Attorney’s Office:

Circuit Judge Hentz McClellan sentenced Nicholas Keith Morris on Friday to 40 years in prison, followed by 10 years probation, for the murder of Morris’ fiancée. Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford told McClellan that Morris, 28, of 128 Sims Ave., Apt. B, Callaway, called 911 and confessed to killing Cortney Adkinson, 27, on Nov. 17. When Bay County deputies arrived, they found Morris laying in the road outside his residence, covered in Adkinson’s blood. Inside, they found Adkinson in the bedroom with her throat slit.

Morris told investigators that he cut Adkinson’s throat while the two were in bed because voices told him to, then smothered her with his hands until she stopped moving. Adkinson died of asphyxiation. Morris pleaded no contest to second ­degree murder, waived all mental­health defenses and McClellan sentenced him along the terms of the agreement to 40 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation. A condition of his probation will be that Morris, who is schizophrenic, must stay on his medications.

Adkison’s mother, Teresa Schaffer, told McClellan that Morris would “get justice when he met his maker.” She and Inv. Stephen Jencks of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office were in the courtroom and were in agreement with the conditions of the plea.

Child Sexual Battery Conviction

July 28, 2016

For Immediate Release

According to the State Attorney’s Office:

A Washington County jury convicted Carl Lewis Burns on Wednesday of 10 counts of sexual battery on a child.

Assistant State Attorney Shalla Jefcoat proved to jurors during the one ­day trial that Burns, 62, of 2218 Douglas Ferry Road, Chipley, had repeatedly sexually assaulted a teenage girl from October 2012 to February 2015. The victim reported the abuse Feb. 15, 2015, to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. DNA evidence collected at the hospital confirmed the last sexual assault.

Burns was found guilty as charged of 10 counts of sexual battery on a child in custodial care. He faces up to 30 years in prison on each count when Circuit Judge Peter Mallory sentences him Sept. 12