Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on June 18, 2021, a Bay County jury deliberated for 25 minutes before finding Michael Vincent Fogarty guilty as charged of Sexual Battery on a Helpless Person.

The testimony and evidence presented at trial proved that the victim was found by her fiancé unconscious with her clothes askew in the early morning hours of April 1, 2017. After being rushed to the ER, a sexual assault exam was performed with the victims consent. The DNA swabs collected from the victim came back implicating the Defendant with the sexual battery, at which time he was charged when the crime.

The case was investigated by Cpl. Preston Allyn and the Panama City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Nicole Reed and Lynelle Dowe. The Defendant faces up to 30 years in the department of corrections, and is scheduled for sentencing July 23rd before the Honorable Judge Dustin Stephenson.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on June 9, 2021, a Bay County jury convicted 36 year-old Adam Keith Horne of Kidnapping, Robbery with a Deadly Weapon, and Grand Theft Motor Vehicle.

Evidence presented at trial included testimony from the then 80-year-old victim who told the jury she offered Horne and his girlfriend, Rachel Price, a ride when they said their friends had left them at Walmart in Panama City Beach. After getting in the car, Horne pulled a knife on the victim and held it to her throat. Even though the victim offered to give them the car, they would not let her go. When the victim had to stop for gas, she was able to get away. Horne and his girlfriend went on to steal a vehicle from another victim and were eventually caught in that vehicle. Recordings of Horne speaking with law enforcement officers were also presented at trial during which Horne admitted to holding the victim hostage. DNA evidence also linked Horne to the knife recovered from the victim’s car. Horne’s girlfriend, Rachel Price, had previously been convicted at trial of her charges arising from these same acts.

The jury deliberated for less than 20 minutes before finding Horne guilty as charged on all counts. Sentencing is scheduled for July 1, 2021, before the Honorable Brantley S. Clark, Jr, where Horne faces a sentence of life in prison. The case was investigated by Panama City Beach Police Department with assistance from Bay County Sheriff’s Office and FDLE. It was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Lieb and Lynelle Dowe.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release:

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on May 14, 2021, a Bay County jury found Kristina Kay Heming guilty of Grand Theft Over $100,000.

Evidence presented at trial proved that between January 2014 and January 2017, while working for Emerald View Association Management, the defendant, who was in charge of the company’s books and finances, managed to steal nearly half a million dollars by giving herself extra paychecks, by using company credit and bank cards for personal purchases, and by misappropriating over $200,000 in cash. Thousands of pages of bank statements, credit card statements, bank account records, as well as the company books, showed that in all, the defendant embezzled over $440,000 from Emerald View Association Management.

Sentencing is set for May 28, 2021, before Circuit Judge Dustin Stephenson, and the defendant faces up to a maximum 30 years in prison. This case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Frank Sullivan and Lynelle Dowe.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

PRESS RELEASE

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that Dustin Miller has joined the State Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State Attorney.  Mr. Miller is a Marianna native who graduated from Chipola College before earning his Bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Florida.  Mr. Miller previously worked as a Legal Trainee in our Jackson County office before joining his family business as an Executive General Manager at Miller & Miller Dealer Group.  Mr. Miller has returned to the practice of law, and we are excited to welcome him to our team!

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on April 28, 2021, a Bay County jury found Christopher Lee King guilty of Attempted Murder in the First Degree with a Firearm, 3 Counts of Attempted Manslaughter by Act with a Firearm, and Shooting Deadly Missiles into an Occupied Vehicle.

Evidence presented at trial proved that the Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to East Callaway Heights 5 days after Hurricane Michael, to a report of a man shot.  The victim was found to have been shot in the back of the head and life flighted via helicopter to Fort Walton for trauma surgery.  The other 3 victims were King’s ex-wife and their two children, ages 3 and 5.  King was enraged when his ex-wife came over to pick up their kids after the Hurricane.  King demanded that the ex-wife not take the kids and retrieved his Glock 19 firearm.  After the children were loaded in the victim’s truck, King began shooting multiple rounds at the truck and 4 occupants inside.  One of his shots was to the driver, who was struck.  This shot narrowly missed his 3-year-old daughter. The truck then crashed into a ditch and struck a power pole.   The mother of the children was held at gunpoint and later ran off to call 911.  Thankfully, the children were not injured during the shooting or the crash.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Peter Overstreet and Jacob Cook.  Sentencing is set for May 13, 2021, before Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

The Office of the State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on April 27, 2021, a Jackson County jury convicted Anthony Holden of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting an Officer Without Violence, and Driving While License Suspended, Canceled, or Revoked.

Evidence presented at trial proved that on January 7, 2020, the Defendant, after being pulled over by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for a traffic infraction, immediately abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene. With a quick reaction by law enforcement, the Defendant was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. In the Defendant’s front right pocket, law enforcement located six (6) jeweler bags of methamphetamine.

The Defendant is currently on probation for Robbery with a Firearm and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and faces up to Life in prison.

Circuit Judge James Jefferson Goodman Jr. scheduled sentencing for June 24, 2021. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Lawrence Gill and Ben Keown.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on April 23, 2021, Judge James J. Goodman, Jr., sentenced Lisette Taylor to 23 years Department of Corrections for her February 24, 2021, conviction of Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child for the death of her 19-day old infant daughter in 2017.

Evidence presented at trial demonstrated a pattern of conduct whereby the defendant neglected the infant after ingesting a large amount of methamphetamine, staying up for 24 hours, and then co-sleeping with the 19-day old infant for over 10 hours in a post-methamphetamine crash, resulting in the child’s death.

The case was investigated by the Graceville Police Department, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office, the Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.  It was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Mark Graham and Benjamin Keown.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on April 21, 2021, a Gulf County jury convicted Storm Sims of Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Oxycodone, Possession of Heroin, Possession  of over 20 grams of Marijuana, Flee to Elude Law Enforcement, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on April 13, 2021, Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson sentenced Kayla Kostic to 14 years in prison for her role in the murder of Mark Jankiewicz.  Kostic entered a plea agreement with the State on January 31, 2020, where she agreed to testify truthfully against Emilio Jack.  Kostic pled to Principal to Robbery with a Deadly Weapon and Accessory After the Fact to Second Degree Murder.  Kostic provided her testimony to a Bay County jury who found Jack guilty of Second Degree Murder with a Deadly Weapon and Robbery with a Deadly Weapon on March 30, 2021.

On July 27, 2019, Mark Jankiewicz was found covered in a blanket under a picnic table at the Hathaway Bridge boat ramp.  Jack fatally stabbed the victim six times using two screwdrivers.  Jack’s sentencing is set for May 11, 2021, before Judge Christopher Patterson.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Bob Sombathy and Frank Sullivan.  The case agent was Sgt. Steve Rhinehart of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

For additional, information contact State Attorney Larry Basford.