Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on November 20, 2019, a Bay County jury convicted Michael Vonkee Carson of three (3) counts of Aggravated Child Abuse and three (3) counts of Neglect of a Child Causing Great Bodily Harm or Permanent Disfigurement.  In 2014, the Defendant burned a 5-year-old child with a lighter, beat her with a belt buckle, whipped her and burned her in scalding water over a period of time.  The Defendant never sought any medical care for any of the child’s injuries.  The child was rescued by Cynthia Brandt with Family First Network when she discovered the injuries on an unannounced home visit with the child’s aunt.  Ms. Brandt immediately reported the abuse and injuries to law enforcement and the Child Abuse Hotline.

This case was investigated by Panama City Police Department with assistance from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.  The Defendant has 13 prior felony convictions and is facing sentencing enhancement as a Habitual Felony Offender.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Barbara Beasley and Nichole Pieper.  Sentencing is scheduled before Circuit Judge Ana Maria Garcia on January 7, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.  The Defendant is facing a possible sentence of 30-60 years per count as to Counts 1, 2 and 3 and 15 to 30 years per count as to Counts 3, 4, and 5.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on November 20, 2019, in Circuit Court in Calhoun County, the Honorable Shonna Gay pronounced sentence on James Michael Hathaway, age 29.  Hathaway had been convicted on October 18, 2019, by a jury of Murder in the Second Degree (Victim over 65 years of age), Burglary with an Assault, Kidnapping, and Robbery.  Family of the victim, Frank Smith, testified that the victim was a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and that his killing was completely unnecessary.  Assistant State Attorney William Wright urged the Judge to give the maximum sentence.  Judge Gay sentenced Hathaway to life in prison for the murder, kidnapping and burglary, and she ordered that the sentences be served consecutively.  Judge Gay also sentenced him to 15 years on the robbery and 5 years on a violation of probation, to be served concurrently.

The case was investigated by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on October 30, 2019, after about 8 minutes of deliberation, a Bay County jury found James Warren Moore guilty of Trafficking Methamphetamine (14 grams or more).

On April 30, 2019, officers with the Panama City Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and identified the Defendant as the driver.  While making contact with the Defendant, officers saw a clear tupperware container filled with a white, crystalized substance, sitting in plain view, located directly in front of the gear shift and underneath the radio.  The officers immediately recognized the substance as being a type of methamphetamine known as “ice” due to its distinct appearance.  A chemical analyst from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement further testified that the substance was, in fact, methamphetamine and weighed approximately 23 grams, which was well above the 14 gram minimum to support the charge.

Moore is set for sentencing on November 21, 2019 before the Honorable Judge Brantley Clark Jr.  He is a Habitual Felony Offender with 5 prior felony convictions. He is facing a 3 year minimum mandatory sentence up to Life in prison.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Calie Rivera and Alexis Sykes.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of the State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on October 30, 2019, a Jackson County jury convicted Rodney Moultry of Robbery with a Firearm and Tampering with a Victim.  Evidence presented at trial proved that Moultry went to the home of a disabled family member on December 28, 2018, and demanded money and a television while pointing a firearm at the victim.  Moultry also shoved the victim to the ground and took the victim’s telephone to prevent him from immediately calling law enforcement.

This case was investigated by Lt. Tyler Scarbrough, Ofc. Dalton Griffith, and Sgt. David Herndon of the Marianna Police Department.

Assistant State Attorney Shalla Phelps Jefcoat prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Florida.  The defendant, who qualifies as a Prison Releasee Reoffender and a Habitual Felony Offender, is scheduled for sentencing before the Honorable Judge James J. Goodman on December 13, 2019.  Moultry faces the possibility of a life sentence.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on October 22, 2019, a Bay County jury convicted William Douglas Lacy, III, of three counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, three counts of Possession or Control of a Material including Sexual Conduct of a Child, and three counts of Promoting Sexual Performance by a Child.

Evidence presented at trial proved that in Nov 2017, photographs of the victim with glow in the dark paint on her nude body were discovered on the Defendant’s cell phone.  Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators interviewed the Defendant who told them he would get sexually excited when the victim would sit on his lap.  The Defendant told investigators that he had painted the child, took nude photographs of her and inserted his finger into her vagina on two occasions.  This information corroborated the victim’s disclosures to the Child Protection Team.

This case was investigated by Inv. Matthew Cutcher and assisted by Sgt. David Higgins and Captain Jason Daffin with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Barbara Beasley and Assistant State Attorney Ian Gray.  Sentencing is scheduled before Circuit Judge Ana Maria Garcia on December 3, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. and the Defendant is facing the possibility of life in prison and being designated a sexual predator.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess releases the following information:

On October 18, 2019, a Calhoun County jury in Blountstown, Florida convicted James Michael Hathaway of Second Degree Murder (Victim over 65 Years of Age), Burglary with Assault or Battery, Kidnapping and Robbery.  Sometime between December 30th and December 31st, 2018 the victim, a 79-year-old Calhoun County resident, was assaulted in his home, bound with zip-ties, electrical cords, and metal binding, beaten severely, his property stolen, and he was left for dead.  The victim was discovered on December 31, 2018 by a family member and was life flighted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries from the brutal attack.  Assistant State Attorney William Wright called 19 witnesses to prove to the jury the chain of events that occurred and the evidence of those crimes, proving to the jury that James Michael Hathaway committed or assisted in committing those crimes.  The case was investigated by the Calhoun County Sheriff s Office with the assistance of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.  Judge Shonna Young Gay scheduled a sentencing date for November 20, 2019. James Michael Hathaway faces up to life in prison based on his conviction.

Please contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford with any questions.

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess is seeking both entry-level and experienced Assistant State Attorneys.  For job postings and to apply, visit our website at:

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Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on October 14, 2019, Chief Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson sentenced Jermaine Croft to a total of 60 years of imprisonment for two counts of Sexual Battery on a Physically Helpless Victim.

Croft was found guilty of the charges by a Bay County jury on September 26, 2019.  Evidence presented at trial proved that the victim and her friends went out for a celebration in Panama City Beach.  The victim planned to stay the night with her best friend.  Croft, who had given a fake last name of Bryant, was dating the victim’s best friend.  After a night out drinking, the three returned to the friend’s residence where the friend took care of the victim and helped her to bed, because she was extremely intoxicated.  Afterwards Croft left the residence and later returned from a bar.  Croft then forcibly raped the victim as she was asleep and unconscious.  The victim attempted to fight Croft off but was choked, bitten, and slammed into the bed numerous times.

Croft is a six-time convicted felon.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Peter Overstreet and Brittany Adams.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on October 14, 2019, Chief Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson sentenced Joseph Darian Bell to 10 years of imprisonment after finding Bell to be a Habitual Felony Offender.

On September 25, 2019, Bell was convicted of Sale of Heroin by a Bay County jury.  The evidence presented at trial established that the defendant sold to a confidential informant from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.  The Bay County Sheriff’s Office assisted and utilized undercover recording equipment to record the sale of the heroin to the confidential informant.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Peter Overstreet.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, Circuit Judge Ana Maria Garcia sentenced Bryan Broxton to 28 years of imprisonment for Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting Officer with Violence, following a guilty verdict on September 20, 2019.

Evidence presented at trial proved that while trying to detain inmate Bryan Broxton at the Bay County Jail, the Defendant violently resisted being restrained by pulling away from Cpl. William Stoudt and subsequently throwing him over his shoulder, driving him into the concrete floor. Cpl. Stoudt received a severe concussion and permanent neck injuries causing permanent disability. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Nichole Pieper and Cord Grimes and investigated by Inv. Marc Bailey with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.