Jury takes less than 30 minutes to return guilty verdict for drug trafficking

A Bay County jury took less than 30 minutes this week to find Sean Michael O’Connor guilty of Trafficking in Hydrocodone, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

After Prosecutor Josh James presented the state’s case, the jury deliberated about 25 minutes before finding O’Connor, 45, guilty as charged on the trafficking charge, Unlawful Use of a Communication Device, and Driving While License Suspended/Revoked.

Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark set sentencing for Nov. 20.

James called three witnesses, including case agent Inv. Philip Hill of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

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According to witnesses and testimony, the Sheriff’s Office learned in December, 2021, that the defendant was attempting to sell Hydrocodone pills.

After agreeing to sell 100 of the pain pills for $700, the defendant, who did not have a valid driver’s license, was pulled over on his way to the meeting spot Dec. 21, 2021.

Investigators found two prescription bottles with the labels removed in his truck. One contained 100 Hydrocodone pills and the other contained 15.

Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office for its work in putting together evidence for a strong case.

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