Press Release
The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on September 26, 2019, a Bay County jury found Jermaine Croft guilty as charged of two counts of Sexual Battery on a Physically Helpless Person. The victim and her friends went out for a celebration in Panama City Beach. The victim planned to stay the night with her best friend. Croft, who had given a fake last name of Bryant, was dating the victim’s best friend. After a night out drinking, the three returned to the friend’s residence where the friend took care of the victim and helped her to bed, because she was extremely intoxicated. Afterwards Croft left the residence and later returned from a bar. Croft then forcibly raped the victim as she was asleep and unconscious. The victim attempted to fight Croft off but was choked, bitten, and slammed into the bed numerous times.
During the trial, the State presented the testimony of the victim, her friend, the nurse who performed the sexual assault kit, Lt. Aaron Wilson from the Parker Police Department, and the FDLE DNA analyst. Evidence showed injuries consistent with forcible rape, and the DNA results proved the Defendant had vaginally and anally raped the victim. It took the jury less than 40 minutes to convict.
Croft is a 6-time convicted felon and faces 60 years in prison. Sentencing is set for October 14, 2019, before the Honorable Chief Judge Christopher Patterson. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Peter Overstreet and Brittany Adams.
For additional information, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.