A 56-year-old Sexual Predator was sentenced to Life in prison without the possibility of parole Wednesday after a jury found him guilty of molesting a 6-year-old girl, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Michael Neaves Butts, of Alabama, was found guilty of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation on a person under the age of 12 after a one-day trial. Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark then ordered the Life sentence.

In 1997 the defendant was found guilty of Attempted Sexual Battery of a young girl and ultimately was sentenced to a total of about 16 years in prison. He also was designated as a Sexual Predator. He was living in Alabama at the time of the most recent offense, which occurred while he was visiting here.

“The pain and suffering unleashed by this defendant on 2 innocent children more than 20 years apart is hard to articulate,” Prosecutor J.P. Ferreira said after the verdict. “Because this victim came forward, he will spend the rest of his life in a prison cell where he belongs.”

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Prosecutor J.P. Ferreira presented evidence and testimony that included both the 6-year-old victim in the recent case, and the sexual abuse victim who was 8 years old when Butts was convicted of sexually abusing her in 1997.

In Wednesday’s case, the sexual abuse came to light during an ongoing Department of Children and Families investigation into the living conditions at the child’s home in 2023. The defendant was in Bay County during a portion of that time, and when he left the victim reported the abuse.

Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center personnel trained in working with child sex victims interviewed the child, who detailed the abuse.

Basford thanked the Springfield Police Department, DCF, and the GCCAC for their active role in the case.

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

A jury returned guilty verdicts Tuesday against a man who was in his mid-teens when he sexually battered a 9-year-old girl on two different occasions.

Garrett William Bowden, who lived out of state at the time of the 2017 offenses, is now 23. He was found guilty of two counts of Sexual Battery Upon a Person Less than 12 Years of Age. Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark set sentencing for Feb. 16. The charges are punishable by up to Life in prison.

Prosecutor Frank Sullivan called witnesses – including the victim – and presented evidence proving the defendant sexually battered the victim during the summer of 2017. The defendant was 15 at the time, the victim was 9.

“This victim showed amazing strength in coming forward and testifying,” Sullivan said after the trial. “She was 9 years old when she was raped, she’s had to live with that pain for the last 9 years, and today she had to relive it on the stand.

“We are glad she saw justice carried out and that the defendant will be held accountable for what he did to her.”

The victim, now 18, testified Tuesday that the defendant warned her not to tell anyone. And for nearly 7 years she did not, she said, out of fear.

But testimony showed that in 2023 the victim, a teen at that point, overheard a conversation that the defendant was moving back to Panama City and immediately disclosed what had happened back in 2017. Lynn Haven Police Department officers were notified and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office joined when it was learned one sexual battery occurred in unincorporated Bay County. Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center personnel trained in working with child sex victims interviewed the child.

The defendant was arrested in Tallahassee in 2024.

Basford thanked the LHPD, BCSO, GCCAC and other agencies that collaborated to put together a case that yielded positive results years after the offenses took place.

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

An Alabama man who unsuccessfully claimed he was expecting to meet a woman he found on a social media app was sentenced to 25 years in prison Thursday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Marques Isaiah Player, of Sylacuaga, Ala., was found guilty of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm (great bodily injury) after Prosecutor Frank Sullivan presented the case during a 1-day trial Nov. 5. Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark handed down the sentence Thursday.

“This case presents a cautionary tale about meeting and ‘hooking up’ with random strangers you meet on dating apps,” Sullivan said following the trial. “Not everyone on the internet is who they claim to be, and that can be dangerous for both parties. Mr. Player has 25 years to think about that.”

Part of Player’s defense was that he thought he was messaging with a woman on social media apps in the hours before the May 1, 2022, shooting. But the evidence made it clear he knew the victim was a man.

They agreed to meet at the defendant’s beach motel room. The defendant claimed it was only when he got in the truck that he realized it was a man, and he fired a shot out of fear when he saw an empty gun holster in the truck. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigation, however, showed through texts and messages that the defendant knew he was a meeting a man before the victim arrived. And jurors agreed.

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Surveillance video showed that the victim pulled into the hotel parking lot and sat there for several minutes. The defendant is seen leaving his hotel room, pulling a gun from his pants pocket, racking a round into the chamber and then putting the gun back in his pocket before eventually walking over to the victim’s vehicle.

The defendant is seen opening the passenger door of the victim’s truck but only remaining for seconds before shooting the victim and running away on foot. The victim was able to call 911 for assistance while the defendant and a friend fled in the friend’s Jeep. The Sheriff’s Office’s BAYROC monitoring system was used to show it crossed the Hathaway Bridge headed into Panama City minutes after the shooting. At 4:02 a.m. the vehicle, and the suspects, were found and taken into custody at a gas station near 23rd Street and U.S. 231. The gun used in the shooting was in the vehicle.

Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office for its work on the case and the quick arrest.

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

The Florida Supreme Court Thursday upheld Michael H. Hunt’s first-degree murder conviction and death sentence for the April 4, 2019, quadruple shooting in the Cove that left a teenager dead and three seriously injured, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

The Court also upheld Hunt’s three convictions for Attempted First-Degree Murder and Armed Burglary of a Dwelling in its 39-page ruling. Hunt was found guilty of those charges Sept. 13, 2023, with the jury recommending the death penalty by a 10-2 vote. Circuit Judge Shonna Young Gay sentenced Hunt to death Jan. 18, 2024.

Thursday’s opinion is critical because the Hunt death penalty sentence is the first to be decided by the Florida Supreme Court since the Legislature rescinded the state’s unanimous-jury requirement. Under the 2023 legislation, an 8-4 vote for death is sufficient for the death penalty. Hunt’s jury voted 10-2 for the death penalty.

“We are very pleased with the well-reasoned landmark opinion,” Basford said. “Michael Hunt is a very dangerous man who attempted to kill a witness against him in a human trafficking case. He ended up murdering a teenager who had nothing to do with that case and tried to kill three other people in the home.

“We are glad the Florida Supreme Court agrees with us, the judge, and the jury that voted for the death penalty.”

Hunt planned the break-in at a Cove home on April 4, 2019, where the victim in a human trafficking case who was going to testify against him was staying. The intended victim hid and escaped harm, but Alexandra “Lexie” Peck, 19, who resembled the victim was shot to death. Her stepfather Danny Scoggins was shot in the throat but was able to crawl next door for help. He has endured more than 60 surgeries since. Two other people in the house were shot but survived.

A collaborative investigation led by the Panama City Police Department with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and State Attorney’s Office led to a manhunt for the defendant. He was arrested the following day.

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Prosecutors Mark Graham and Peter Overstreet tried the case against Hunt and the jury reached a verdict in about an hour.

During sentencing, Judge Gay found that five aggravating factors had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and that they carried great weight. Gay found the defendant previously had been convicted of a crime involving violence, the murder occurred while committing a burglary, the murder was committed to disrupt or hinder a lawful investigation, the murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, and that the murder was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner.

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

BONIFAY – One of the main players in the October 18, 2024, robbery of  the Bonifay Wells Fargo ATM where more than $100,000 was stolen was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Wednesday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Jacorey Deshawn Hall, 27, entered an open plea to Grand Theft of more than $100,000 and Robbery on Nov. 18 – the day after a jury had been selected by Holmes County Chief Assistant State Attorney Jacob Cook, and the day Defendant’s trial was supposed to begin. An open plea means the Defendant admits his guilt and the sentence would be decided by the judge, since Assistant State Attorney Cook had withdrawn all plea offers prior to trial. Circuit Judge Russell Roberts, in addition to the prison sentence, added 30 years probation.  Hall also has outstanding warrants for similar robberies in Texas and Wisconsin.

At sentencing Assistant State Attorney Cook presented evidence showing the Court that Hall and two accomplices caused the Bonifay ATM to malfunction, which resulted in a service call for repairs. Jacorey Hall and his accomplices waited over 4 hours after jamming the ATM, and when the technician arrived, they rushed him, beat him away from the ATM, and stole over $100,000 cash.

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Witnesses and video surveillance helped law enforcement identify the getaway car and its tag, and its path of travel back to Panama City Beach. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office found the abandoned car and items in it – like gloves and receipts –that were linked to the Jacorey Hall by his fingerprints and DNA.

The Defendant also posted pictures of himself with a large amount of cash on social media, which later helped law enforcement connect him to the robbery, and data from the pictures showed they were taken in the house rented by the defendant. The social media pictures were critical to the case because throughout the robbery Jacorey Hall was fully masked and fully gloved.

“Chief Johnny Whitaker and the Bonifay Police Department did a great job of  putting the pieces together to bring Jacorey Hall to justice,” Cook said. “Organized crime will not be tolerated here in Holmes County. This was a sophisticated and calculated crime that took a lot of planning, but now Jacorey Hall has 15 years behind bars to plan better life decisions.”

Authorities from multiple states contributed to the investigation of the Bonifay robbery, the failed robbery attempt in Marianna, and an earlier ATM robbery in Wisconsin. Hall was caught in Texas in March after a similar ATM robbery there.

Basford thanked the Bonifay Police Department and all the agencies involved for their collaboration.

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

Joshua A. Smith, the final defendant in a case that began with a traffic stop last year and led to five arrests on drug charges, was found guilty of trafficking in fentanyl and methamphetamine on Wednesday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Smith, 40, of Panama City, was found guilty of Trafficking in Fentanyl (between 14 grams and 28 grams), Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Sale of Methamphetamine, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device. Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark set sentencing for Jan. 22, where the State will be seeking an enhanced penalty under the Habitual Felony Offender statute.

The defendant had previously been to prison five times, with his most recent incarceration for drug trafficking. The defendant had been released from prison less than a year prior to being arrested in this case.

Prosecutor Frank Sullivan called four witnesses, including two Panama City Police Department officers, and presented evidence that the defendant sold $150 worth of methamphetamine – about 14 grams – to a confidential informant on April 7, 2024. A short time after the monitored transaction was complete, Panama City police performed a probable cause stop of the defendant.

During a search of the defendant’s truck, police found “black magnetic box” stuck to the bottom of the vehicle. It contained about 67 grams of pressed fentanyl pills, 15 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, and the cash received from the confidential information.

“Panama City police did a thorough investigation that ultimately led to several major drug dealers receiving significant prison time.” Sullivan said. “The result of this entire investigation kept hundreds of pressed fentanyl pills off the streets of our community.”

The case began April 4 when Alicia Ducker of Panama City was pulled over for a traffic violation and was found hiding fentanyl and methamphetamine in her underwear. She said she got the drugs from Anthony Polly, who lived nearby. Ducker pled to the charges against her and was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

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Investigators next focused on Polly’s residence and obtained a search warrant. Waiting to serve it, they saw Polly exit his apartment and get into a truck driven by Willie Goldsmith for about 5 minutes. Goldsmith was stopped for a traffic violation a short distance away and about 60 grams of fentanyl were found inside. Goldsmith pled to the charges against him and received a 20-year sentence.

Investigators then served the search warrant on Polly’s apartment and found about 78 grams of meth and 17 grams of fentanyl. Polly pled to his charges and received 15 years in prison. A second person in the residence, Andy Lee Rhodes, also pled and received a 2-year sentence.

Polly told police Smith sold him 20 of the fentanyl pills. Police then set up the April 7 methamphetamine buy from Smith that led to his arrest.

Basford thanked Panama City police for both their proactive work and ensuing investigation that led to multiple arrests and now convictions.

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

A 49-year-old man found guilty of having sex with a minor after they used cocaine was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday and designated a Sex Offender, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

John C. Bradly, 49, who was living in Panama City at the time of the Jan. 13 offense, was found guilty Oct. 23 of Lewd and Lascivious Battery by a jury that deliberated for about 20 minutes. Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay presided over the trial and handed down the sentence.

At trial, Prosecutor Zach VanDyke called two witnesses – the victim, and Bay County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jake Roberts. He also introduced numerous text messages between the defendant and the victim, and the defendant’s statement to Roberts where he admitted having sex with the girl.

“This is a defendant who not only refused to take responsibility for his actions, but who repeatedly lied and denied, and then attempted to put blame on the victim,” VanDyke said after the trial. “He tried to make her a victim again with his testimony, and I’m grateful the jurors saw through that. His behavior is sending him where he belongs – prison.”

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The victim testified that the defendant went to high school with one of her relatives and it was through that connection that she met him. She said he picked her up at her residence Jan. 13, drove her around, and they stopped and used cocaine twice. She said after the second time, he initiated sex with her.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for its follow up work that led to Bradly’s arrest.

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

A woman accused of threatening her mother with a knife and fighting a police officer attempting to detain her afterward was sentenced to 48 months in prison Monday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Emma Susana Bustos, 25, of Panama City Beach, was found guilty Nov. 12 of Resisting an Officer With Violence and Assault. Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson Monday sentenced the defendant to 48 months in prison. He also ordered her to undergo mental health treatment during her incarceration, and additional evaluation and treatment upon her release.

Prosecutor Christopher Walters called two witnesses to prove his case – the defendant’s mother who initially called Panama City Beach Police, and Beach Officer Mason Lawley who responded to the call.

“No officer should ever be attacked while doing their job and protecting our community.” Walters said. “Anyone who threatens or commits violence towards law enforcement will be prosecuted. This office stands with our partners in law enforcement.”

The testimony and evidence showed the defendant threatened her mom on May 23, 2025. The victim, fearing the defendant might use a knife, fled to her bedroom and locked the door. The defendant began yelling threats and banging on the door with an object. Police later found knife puncture marks on the outside of the door.

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When Officer Lawley arrived and was given permission to enter the home, he spotted Bustos and attempted to question her. Bodycam footage showed Bustos became increasingly agitated which included poking Officer Lawley in the chest and making verbal threats.

Despite being warned that she could not leave, she attempted to run away from Officer Lawley. During Officer Lawley’s attempts to detain the defendant, she kicked him, scratched him, attempted to bite him, and grabbed a piece of broken ceramic which threatened the Officer’s safety. Officer Lawley suffered various scrapes and minor cuts before he could handcuff Bustos.

Basford thanked the Panama City Beach Police Department for its work on the case.

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

 

A Panama City Beach man found with hundreds of grams of methamphetamine after he fled on foot during a traffic stop was found guilty as charged Friday and sentenced to 30 years in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Roderick Rodriquez Wright, 52, was found guilty of Trafficking Amphetamines (more than 200 grams) and Resisting and Officer Without Violence after only 25 minutes of deliberation by a jury Friday. Prosecutor Brea Dearing needed only two witnesses – Bay County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Lance Woodworth and Florida Department of Law Enforcement analyst Jessica Bosseler to prove her case.

Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay sentenced the defendant to 30 years for the first-degree felony. The first 15 years of that is minimum-mandatory under Florida’s enhanced drug trafficking statutes. Judge Gay also levied a $250,000 fine.

“The defendant was carrying a very large amount of methamphetamine that never made it to our community’s streets thanks to Deputy Woodworth’s active patrol,” Dearing said. “The nearly 1 pound of meth the defendant tried to escape with will be destroyed. But none of our residents will be destroyed by his drugs as he serves this lengthy sentence where he belongs – in prison.”

Dearing had both the testimony of Deputy Woodworth and the defendant’s own words, captured on the deputy’s bodycam following a foot chase.

On April 16, Deputy Woodworth paced a Nissan Altima at 80 mph in a 65-mph zone in northern Bay County. He attempted to stop the vehicle, but a “low speed pursuit” began. Woodworth said the defendant, a passenger in the car, suddenly jumped out of it with a black Nike backpack and fled.

He was captured a short distance away, the backpack nearby. Inside the backpack deputies found four breast milk bags holding seven separate baggies of methamphetamine weighing close to a pound.

The defendant claimed he did not know what was in the backpack. He said he was from Georgia. The car was rented out of state. Dearing said the drugs’ packaging was indicative of a drug trafficking operation.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for its proactive patrol work that led to the arrest.

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