Porter Sentenced to 30 Years for Shooting, Killing Friend During Argument

Posted on October 6, 2026October 6, 2026 by Admin SA

CHIPLEY – Kyle Michael Porter was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday for killing a friend with a shot to the head as they argued following an unsuccessful fishing trip in 2024.

Chief Circuit Court Judge Christopher Patterson presided over the Sept. 23 trial that found the defendant guilty of Manslaughter with a Firearm and ordered the sentence. Chief Washington County Prosecutor Megan presented the case that led to the verdict after 35 minutes of deliberation.

Testimony and evidence at trial proved the defendant, victim Randy Joseph Lynn, and a third man went fishing at Joiner Lake off Teardrop Trail on April 27, 2024. The three men worked together.

There was arguing between the defendant and the victim during the trip, but when they returned to the dock, the victim was too intoxicated to get out of the boat on his own.

The victim was helped out of the boat and resumed his argument with the defendant.

A witness said the victim was unarmed during the argument when the defendant pulled his pistol and fired one shot into his head. The victim, whose blood-alcohol level was .257 – more than three times the legal driving limit – fell backward into the water and died.

The defendant claimed self-defense, but the witness, along with the victim’s level of intoxication proved he was unarmed and not a threat.

“This case is about 15 seconds on a dock and a decision that cannot be taken back,” Ford said at trial. “Randy Lynn did not have a weapon, he did not reach for Kyle’s gun, he did not touch him. Then Kyle introduced a loaded gun into the argument, and approximately 15 seconds passed before Kyle pulled the trigger.”

Basford thanked the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for its thorough investigation that helped lead to a successful outcome.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Sale of Meth in Calhoun Leads to 4-Year Sentence for Marianna Man

Posted on October 5, 2026October 6, 2026 by Admin SA

BLOUNTSTOWN – A Marianna man has been sentenced to 48 months in prison after a jury found him guilty of selling nearly 5 grams of methamphetamine during an undercover investigation, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

A 6-person jury took less than 10 minutes to return a guilty verdict for Sale of Methamphetamine against 35-year-old Royce Tracy Peaden Jr. after a 1-day trial Wednesday Sept. 30. Circuit Court Judge Brandon Young then sentenced the defendant to 48 months in prison, to be followed by 24 months’ probation.

Calhoun County Chief Prosecutor Joshua White called three witnesses – a Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office Investigator, a witness to the sale, and a Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab analyst. He also presented bodycam video of the transaction, photos and text messages to prove the case.

The evidence showed that the defendant agreed to sell 5 grams of methamphetamine to a Calhoun County resident on June 6, 2025, and drove from Marianna to do so.

Video showed the defendant approaching the passenger’s window of another vehicle, where he was given $100. In return he placed a bag of Ranch-flavored Chester’s Fries onto the passenger’s seat of the buyer’s vehicle. Investigators monitoring the transaction checked the snack bag and found it contained a plastic baggie with 4.8 grams of methamphetamine.

Basford thanked Calhoun County Sheriff Michael Bryant and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office for its work in building the case and gathering evidence that helped lead to a guilty verdict.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 22 years

Posted on September 28, 2026 by Admin SA

A man found guilty two weeks ago of Trafficking in Methamphetamine (more than 200 grams) was sentenced to 22 years in prison Monday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Because of the volume of methamphetamine involved, Christian Samuel Stepp, 53, of Georgia, will serve the first 15 years of that sentence as a minimum-mandatory under Florida’s enhanced drug trafficking statute. Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stevenson also ordered a $250,000 fine.

“This is a significant penalty for someone trying to bring a large amount of methamphetamine into our community,” lead Prosecutor Christopher Walters said. “The traffickers bringing in these extremely harmful substances will continue to find out there is a price to be paid for their choices.”

Walters again thanked the Bay County Sheriffs Office and its Special Investigations Division for its work in stopping these drugs before they could make it to the streets.

The evidence against Stepp at trial included text messages between the defendant and others, and bodycam of the search warrant being served.

The Sheriff’s Office’s Special SID team served a search warrant in a camper March 14, 2025, near Southport.

The defendant was in bedroom where the drugs were recovered.

Two of the co-defendants – the owner of the camper included – testified against the defendant.

Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office for its proactive investigative work.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

23-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to 8 Years for Holmes County Burglary

Posted on September 25, 2026 by Admin SA

BONIFAY – A man who was first spotted breaking into a truck by its owner and then identified by motion-detector game camera pictures on the property has been sentenced to 8 years in prison, followed by 5 years of probation, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

William Junior Bryan Jr., 49, of Freeport, was found guilty by a Holmes County jury after deliberating for 20 minutes on Wednesday of Burglary of a Dwelling and Attempted Burglary of a Conveyance. Circuit Court Judge Russell Roberts presided over the one-day trial and sentencing.

Chief Holmes County Prosecutor Jake Cook called three witnesses, including the resident who was awakened during the burglary.

“For lifelong criminals, just like we had in this case, we will continue to seek the maximum penalty under Florida Law,” Cook said. “Hopefully this Defendant thinks twice before he goes out and commits his 26th felony.”

The testimony and evidence showed that the resident of the home was awakened by his barking dog around 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 20. He went to the back porch of the residence and saw a man wearing short and white socks – no shirt or shoes – getting out of his truck.

The resident called 911; he then noticed some items inside his home had been stolen. He checked his deer camera, and it showed a bald white male wearing shorts and socks with no shoes. Deputies spotted the defendant a short distance away and said the man immediately turned around, placed his hands on his head and dropped to his knees.

Basford thanked the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office for its fast response to the call and quick arrest.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

JURY: Man Guilty of Molesting Child

Posted on September 25, 2026September 25, 2026 by Admin SA

CHIPLEY – A Washington County jury found Ronald Gene Hawkins guilty of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation on a child less than 12 years of age following a trial involving the molestation of a child during summer visits.

Chief Circuit Court Judge Christopher Patterson set sentencing for Nov. 3. The defendant, 69, faces up to Life in prison.

The victim bravely testified to what had occurred in the home several summers ago. Years later, the prospect of returning to the area prompted her to disclose what had happened.

The jury also heard testimony from another witness concerning a separate incident involving the defendant. The court instructed jurors on how they could consider that evidence.

“We are grateful to the victims for their courage in testifying and to the jury for its careful attention to the evidence,” said Washington County Chief Prosecutor Megan Ford.

The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before returning its verdict.

Basford thanked the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for its work on the case.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Man Guilty of Shooting Friend in Head During Alcohol-Fueled Argument

Posted on September 25, 2026 by Admin SA

CHIPLEY – A 6-person jury took 35 minutes Wednesday to find Kyle Michael Porter guilty as charged of Manslaughter with a Firearm for shooting a friend in the head as they argued following an unsuccessful fishing trip in 2024.

Chief Circuit Court Judge Christopher Patterson set Porter’s sentencing date for Oct. 6. He faces up to 30 years in prison.

Chief Washington County Prosecutor Megan Ford called six witnesses, including a third person on the fishing trip who witnessed the shooting on the defendant’s dock at Joiner Lake off Teardrop Trail. The witnesses and evidence proved the defendant pulled his gun during an argument on his dock after the trip and shot an unarmed Randy Joseph Lynn once in the head. Lynn fell backward into the lake and died quickly. All three men had been drinking.

“This case is about 15 seconds on a dock and a decision that cannot be taken back,” Ford told jurors. “Randy Lynn did not have a weapon, he did not reach for Kyle’s gun, he did not touch him. Then Kyle introduced a loaded gun into the argument … and approximately 15 seconds passed before Kyle pulled the trigger.

“The evidence will show this was a verbal confrontation with a heavily intoxicated 63-year-old man who moments before could not stand” to get out of the boat.

The victim’s blood-alcohol level was .257, more than three times the legal driving limit.

The evidence and testimony showed that Porter, the victim, and the third person on the fishing trip all worked together and planned a fishing trip on the lake for April 27, 2024. Porter and the third man drove to Southport that morning to pick up the victim, stopping for bait and beer on the way back.

The three were in a small dingy type boat.

The surviving witness said Porter was in back controlling the motor, the victim was in the center of the boat and he was in the front. All three were drinking beer and bourbon but they were not catching any fish.

As they headed back toward the defendant’s dock, they ran through a group of lily pads and the engine became clogged and quit working. In later statements to Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigators, Porter and the surviving witness said the victim became upset and started yelling and arguing with Porter about the engine problem.

The surviving witness said Porter was able to restart the motor and after a brief stop they headed back to the dock with the victim still upset and arguing most of the way. But by the time they reached the dock, the victim had reached a point of intoxication where he could not get out of the boat. The surviving witness tried to help pull him out and eventually he and Porter were able to pull the victim out.

“He started pushing (the third man) quite a bit,” Porter said in his statement. “He comes over to me because I told him to stop and he tells me that he will kill me and at that point man I felt threatened.” Porter claimed the victim charged him and he pulled the trigger.

RELATED: Armed Robber Gets 20 Years

But the other man said while the victim was intoxicated and argumentative, he never tried to get Porter’s gun, never charged Porter, and never tried to touch him or the gun. He said the victim had his hands in the air and was offering to fight both men when Porter pulled the trigger.

“Randy’s hands were up in the air like, ‘Bring it on,’ and Kyle says, ‘I’m going to shoot you’ and a couple of seconds later Kyle pulled the trigger,” the man testified. “Kyle could’ve just walked away.”

After the victim fell in the water, Porter called his wife who was inside their home up a hill from the dock and told her to call 911.

Basford thanked the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and for its thorough investigation that led to the arrest.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Man Guilty of Sexually Assaulting Teen After Providing Alcohol and Drugs

Posted on September 25, 2026September 25, 2026 by Admin SA

A man who drove a 15-year-old girl from Tallahassee, and then sexually assaulted her after he provided her with alcohol and methamphetamine, was found guilty of Lewd and Lascivious Battery Thursday.

State Attorney Larry Basford said Roger Dale Ledbetter Jr., 57, of Tallahassee, will be sentenced Nov. 3 by Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay who presided over the trial.

Prosecutor Morgan McAfee only needed two witnesses: the victim and lead investigator Carl Fondren of the BCSO. The victim testified the defendant got permission to take her to Panama City Beach in 2024. She said along the way they stopped and the defendant bought alcohol for mixed drinks, which they both drank.

She said the defendant also had some methamphetamine, which he used. He told her where it was and that she could try it if she wanted. He then showed her how to prepare and smoke it. Later that night he sexually assaulted her and the following day they returned to Tallahassee.

The victim said she did not report it immediately because she was ashamed.

“I didn’t know what people would think of me,” she testified. “I didn’t want to share my whole story with the adults around. I was unsure if it went to court, how it would work out.”

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for the work put into the investigation that helped lead to a guilty verdict.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Armed Robber Sentenced to 20 years

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Admin SA

A man found guilty of hiding in a convenience store locker for an hour before confronting a clerk at gunpoint and robbing the store has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Nestor Omar Perez, 26, was found guilty of Robbery with a Firearm and Grand Theft (more than $750 but less than $5,000) on Sept. 2 He was arrested by the Panama City Police Department Oct. 13, 2023 robbery in the 3000 block of U.S. 98.

Prosecutor Morgan McAfee called 12 witnesses and presented evidence that it was Perez who walked into the store that day, confronted a clerk with a gun, and committed the robbery.

The evidence showed that the defendant, wearing a jacket partially concealing his face, confronted an employee inside the store and pointed a gun at him. The defendant grabbed money from the register and fled north on Beck Avenue.

Minutes later, with police saturating the area, police spotted the defendant walking in socks near 18^th Street and Wilmont Ave. When searched, the defendant had the gun used in the robbery which had distinctive tape wrapped around the handle. They also found cash in his pocket.

Nearby, police found a pair of distinctive green shoes and other clothing that matched what the robber was wearing in a trashcan. Officers also found several hundred dollars nearby on the ground. The amount found on the ground combined with the amount found in the defendant’s pocket matched the amount missing from the store’s register.

The defendant’s car was found parked a short distance away.

State Attorney Larry Basford thanked the Panama City Police Department for its fast response and thorough investigation that helped lead to a quick resolution.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Fountain Man Guilty of Trafficking in Meth

Posted on September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 by Admin SA

A Fountain man was found guilty Thursday of Trafficking in Methamphetamine after an investigation and an “alert” from a drug-detecting K-9 led to the discovery of 58 grams of the drug he dumped in the vehicle, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Armando Cavazos, 44, is being held without bond pending his sentencing, which Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson set for Oct. 6. Trafficking in Methamphetamine (more than 28 grams but less than 200 grams) is a First-Degree Felony punishable by a minimum-mandatory 7 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years.

“These dealers keep bringing these deadly drugs into our community, and we will continue to take them to trial as our law enforcement partners continue to put them in jail,” Prosecutor Christopher Walters said. “The Bay County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division and Sgt. Jeremy Head did another good job of getting to this defendant before he got his drugs onto our streets.”

Walters and Prosecutor Ben Bollinger called 5 witnesses – including two co-defendants who were in the vehicle when it was stopped – proving the methamphetamine found in the truck belonged to the defendant.

According to testimony, a co-defendant said he was going to install a radio in the defendant’s vehicle in exchange for some meth. While at the defendant’s property, he had to run home for some electrical tape and gave the defendant and another man a ride so they could stop at a nearby store.

They were under surveillance by members of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office SID. When the driver failed to stop at a stop sign, they were pulled over. Inv. Dwight Cummings deployed his K-9 for a “free-air” sniff around the car and it alerted to the presence of drugs.

Attorneys confer with Judge Dustin Stephenson

Investigators testified a baggie containing a white substance was visible on the back floorboard. When the car was searched investigators found the baggie contained 58 grams of what turned out to be methamphetamine.

The driver of the vehicle testified that when deputies turned on their emergency lights to pull them over, he watched Cavazos, in the passenger’s seat, pull out a baggie filled with white powder and stuff it behind him onto the back floorboard.

The defendant was also found guilty of Tampering with a Witness. After his arrest, a recorded jail call showed he was trying to conspire with one of the co-defendants to blame the driver.

Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office and SID for another investigation targeting a major dealer that concluded before the drugs could be sold on the street.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

20 Years For Fleeing While On Probation For Vehicular Homicide

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Admin SA

A man who had been out of prison less than a year for Vehicular Homicide was sentenced to 20 years Wednesday after violating his probation by fleeing from police after he was spotted racing another vehicle.

State Attorney Larry Basford said Javonte Terrell Davis, 21, for violating his probation, was given the maximum sentence of 15 years the State originally sought when he was sentenced in 2022. He was given an addition 5-year sentence to be served consecutively for Fleeing and Attempting to Elude.

Prosecutor Peter Overstreet said Davis’ original offense was July 30, 2021, when the black Dodge Charger he was driving ran two stop signs and hit the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle. The defendant, a juvenile at the time, was going 65 mph at the time of collision. The driver of the second car, a 16-year-old girl, died in the violent collision.

On Jan. 5, 2023, Davis entered an open plea to Vehicular Homicide Jan. 5, 2023, meaning the judge would decide the sentence. He was facing up to 15 years in prison. Overstreet asked for that maximum, however the court sentenced Davis as a Youthful Offender to 3 years in prison to be followed by 3 years’ probation. Part of his sentence was a lifetime driver’s license revocation. He was released from prison July 22, 2025.

Defendant’s car in 2022 Vehicular Homicide

On April 17, 2026, he was arrested or Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, and Racing. He was driving a 2021 Dodge Charger when Lynn Haven police saw him going about 45 mph beside a Ford Mustang. “Both vehicles then accelerated to a top speed of 72 mph in a 45 mph zone,” the arresting officer said.

The officer caught the Mustang; the Charger fled. That driver said it was his brother, Javonte Davis, driving the Charger. The car and defendant were located a short time later. A Violation of Probation charge was added.

“In 2022 I prosecuted this case and asked for the maximum sentence,” Overstreet said. “It was decided this defendant deserved a second chance. And what did he do with that chance? He’s out of prison less than a year driving another Dodge Charger, racing other vehicles and recklessly fleeing from police. He is out of chances.”

In addition, Overstreet noted the defendant’s license was permanently revoked in 2022.

Basford thanked the Parker Police Department for its work on the original case and the Lynn Haven Police Department for its proactive street enforcement. For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.