A Vernon man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading no contest to Trafficking in more than 28 grams of Fentanyl, announced State Attorney Larry Basford.
Sean Thomas Terry, 25, was adjudicated guilty by Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark, who accepted the plea.
The defendant’s trial was set to begin Thursday, with jury selection completed Monday. However, he opted to enter a plea Wednesday morning.
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The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney J.P. Ferreira, who said the sentence reflects the seriousness of the ongoing fentanyl crisis.
“This defendant was found unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle filled with a lethal amount of fentanyl – enough to end hundreds of lives,” Ferreira said. “We were fully prepared to present evidence and witnesses, but this plea ensures justice and protects our community.”
Ferreira was prepared to present witnesses and evidence showing the defendant was arrested on Feb. 7, 2023, around 9:30 a.m. Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies found him unconscious in his vehicle, which was blocking a bank’s ATM. He showed signs he was under the influence of an unknown substance.
Deputies found a small pill bottle in his pocket containing pills that tested positive for fentanyl. He was arrested at the scene, and during a subsequent inventory of the vehicle, deputies discovered a fanny pack behind the driver’s seat. Inside was a black plastic bag containing several smaller baggies that held approximately 119 grams of fentanyl.
Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for its proactive response.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.