BONIFAY – An unwanted Paycheck last year started a chain of events for Joseph Durso that ended with him being found guilty of Possession of Methamphetamine Wednesday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Holmes County Prosecutor Joshua White told jurors that Holmes County Sheriff’s Office K-9 “Paycheck” detected drugs while doing a free-air sniff around Durso’s vehicle Nov. 17, 2024. The ensuing search uncovered methamphetamine.
A jury took 10 minutes to find the defendant guilty as charged of the drug possession charge and Possession of Paraphernalia. Circuit Court Judge Russell Roberts set sentencing for July 2.
“We are pleased the jury returned a verdict of guilty so quickly, which is a reflection of the strong work the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office did on this case,” White said.
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White called three HCSO deputies, including Deputy Chad Tidwell, K-9 Paycheck’s handler, Sgt. Rodger Young and Deputy Jerry Hall.
The evidence and testimony showed the defendant was stopped for an expired tag but was “fidgety and nervous” even after being told he was not going to receive a ticket. He at first said there was nothing in the car, then that “to the best of my knowledge” there was nothing in the car.
K-9 Paycheck alerted to the presence of drugs, and deputies found a methamphetamine pipe with drugs in it in the center console. The defendant told deputies he had not mentioned that because he “didn’t want to get in trouble.”
Basford thanked the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office for its work on the case and use of its K-9.
For additional information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.