Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 31, 2018, Jonathon Murray Naugle was found guilty as charged by a Bay County jury of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation.  Evidence presented at trial demonstrated that on July 2, 2017, the Defendant swam up to a young girl in a hot tub at the Majestic Resort in Panama City Beach.  The young girl testified that the Defendant swam up to her under the water and intentionally touched her in her private area.  The incident was also captured on video surveillance.  The Defendant faces up to 15 years in prison.  Sentencing is set for September 13, 2018, before Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet.  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 July 25, 2018, Oscar Callejas-Vazquez was found guilty as charged by a Bay County jury of Sexual Battery on a Person Less Than 12 Years of Age (two counts), Attempted Sexual Battery on a Person Less Than 12 Years of Age, Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition, Tampering with a Victim, and Resisting an Officer without Violence.  The jury deliberated for less than 2 hours.  The 11-year old victim testified that from age 6 until age 9, the Defendant would sexually abuse her, until his arrest in February of 2016.  The case was investigated by Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Children and Families, and the Child Protection Team.  The Defendant faces a mandatory life sentence.  Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet set sentencing for August 17, 2018.  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 July 17, 2018, Roberta Cotton pleaded guilty to one count of Scheme to Defraud the State of Florida and 41 counts of Falsifying Public Records.  Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson accepted her plea and sentenced her to 4 years in the Department of Corrections followed by 5 years of probation.  She is required to pay fines and costs in the amount of $1,065.00.  She is also liable for restitution in an amount to be determined within 30 days.

Cotton immediately paid $6,676.94 in restitution and has forfeited the remainder of her retirement.  She is expected to testify in the trial of her co-defendant, Genene Hill Hall, in September.  The case was prosecuted by State Attorney Glenn Hess and was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 17, 2018, Circuit Judge Brantley Clark sentenced Scott E. Allen to three consecutive life sentences, plus 700 years of imprisonment.  Allen was designated a Sexual Predator.  The case originated when Allen was arrested for Video Voyeurism by the Lynn Haven Police Department.

On July 3, 2018, a Bay County jury found Allen guilty as charged of 127 counts, including one count of Sexual Battery on a Child Less than 12 Years of Age, two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, one count of Video Voyeurism on Certain Minors, one count of Video Voyeurism, seven counts of Producing Child Pornography, and 115 counts of Possessing Child Pornography.

Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Hawkins and Alyssa Yarbrough prosecuted the case with the help of the Lynn Haven Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Special Agent Brian Livesay, and Chris Wilkinson with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

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

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 9-11, 2018, a six-member Bay County jury found Andrew Allan Pace guilty as charged on all counts, including one count of Sexual Battery Under Specified Circumstances, one count of Sexual Battery with Certain Minors, and one count of False Imprisonment.

Evidence presented at trial showed that on May 20, 2016, Andrew Allan Pace invited the victim, a 16-year-old boy, to lunch before providing him with a shot of alcohol that left the victim incapacitated to resist Pace’s advances.  The victim regained consciousness around 7:30 p.m.  Pace had tied him to his bed and was raping him.  The victim was able to break free from the restraints and fled Pace’s home into the arms of neighbors who called 9-1-1.

Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and immediately began an investigation that led to the arrest of Pace on May 21, 2016. Neighbors testified the victim came running from Pace’s house, naked, terrified and in pain, begging for them to hide him from the man in the white Lincoln.  DNA evidence corroborated the victim’s testimony.

The jury deliberated for a little over two hours before returning a verdict of guilty as charged on all counts.  Circuit Judge Allen Register will sentence Pace on August 7, 2018.  Pace is facing up to life in prison and will be designated a sexual predator.  Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Hawkins and Alyssa Yarbrough prosecuted the case with the help of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

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

Yesterday, the State Attorney’s Office lost one of our own.  Assistant State Attorney Susan Rodger was a bright, shining light in our office.  Susan started working with us in 2010 as a prosecutor in felony court.  She was promoted to Interim Chief of the Juvenile Division in 2011, and became the permanent Chief in 2015.  Susan was a dedicated, thoughtful prosecutor, and was a natural at working with juveniles.  Her compassion and positive attitude will be missed by everyone in our office.  We are all better for having known her.  State Attorney Glenn Hess and his Assistants and staff extend their sincerest condolences to Susan’s family and friends.

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces the following job opportunities in Gulf County.  Please follow the directions in the job postings to apply.  Employment application and authorization to release information are available on our website at: http://sa14.fl.gov/careers-opportunities/.  Copy and paste the links below into your browser.

Secretary II:

https://jobs.myflorida.com/Justice%20Administrative%20Co/job/PORT-SAINT-JOE-STATE-ATTORNEY'S-OFFICE%2C-14TH-CIRCUIT-SECRETARY-II-21013634-FL-32446/488639500/

Victim/Witness Counselor II (Position serves Gulf and Calhoun Counties):

https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/PORT-SAINT-JOE-STATE-ATTORNEY'S-OFFICE%2C-14TH-CIRCUIT-VICTIM-WITNESS-COUNSELOR-II-21009081-FL-32405/488637900/

For additional information, contact Human Resources at SA_businessoffice@sa14.fl.gov.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 2-3, 2018, a six-member Bay County jury found Scott E. Allen guilty as charged of 127 counts, including one count of Sexual Battery on a Child Less than 12 Years of Age, two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, one count of Video Voyeurism on Certain Minors, one count of Video Voyeurism, seven counts of Producing Child Pornography, and 115 counts of Possessing Child Pornography.

The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that on August 17, 2016, the Defendant recorded a minor while she tried on pants in the Goodwill store in Lynn Haven, Florida.  Then on September 10, 2016, the Lynn Haven Police Department arrested the Defendant and searched his truck.  Inside the Defendant’s truck, officers located seven thumb drives and a Motorola XT1080 cell phone.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reviewed the evidence seized from the Defendant’s truck and discovered videos of women changing clothes in dressing rooms, women using the bathroom at the Defendant’s home, images of the Defendant and a child engaged in acts of sexual conduct, and 115 images of child pornography.

The jury deliberated for a little over an hour before returning a verdict of guilty as charged on all counts.  Circuit Judge Brantley Clark, Jr., will sentence the Defendant on July 17, 2018.  The Defendant is facing a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole and will be designated a sexual predator.  Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Hawkins and Alyssa Yarbrough prosecuted the case with the help of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Special Agent Brian Livesay, Chris Wilkinson with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lynn Haven Police Department.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on June 28, 2018, a Jackson County jury found Daniel Jacob Craven, Jr., guilty as charged of First Degree Murder in the death of his cellmate at the Graceville Correctional Facility. On June 29, 2018, the twelve-member jury recommended a sentence of death by a unanimous vote.

Evidence presented at the trial demonstrated that while incarcerated at the Graceville Correctional Facility, Craven murdered his cellmate, John H. Anderson, on June 28, 2015, by repeatedly stabbing him with a shank. During the trial, the jury heard testimony that Craven killed his cellmate because they were of different races and religions, and because Craven wanted to start a race riot in prison.

Evidence presented during the penalty phase of the trial demonstrated that Craven was at the Graceville Correctional Facility serving a life sentence for the 2011 murder of Ronald Justice. Craven had been having an affair with Justice’s wife, and beat Justice with a baseball bat outside of the home where Justice was staying, while Justice begged for his life. He then handcuffed Justice and drowned him in a dog bowl.

The case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford and Assistant State Attorney Laura Parish. Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson set sentencing for September 4, 2018.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on June 26, 2018, a Bay County jury found Billy Dean Lay guilty of Possession of Methamphetamine, Resisting an Officer Without Violence, and Use or Possession with Intent to Use Drug Paraphernalia.  During the one-day trial, the State presented evidence showing that on June 11, 2017, Bay County Sheriff’s Deputy Alex Young was investigating a burglary in the area of Grand Lagoon Shores Dr. and North Lagoon Dr.  When he observed the Defendant in the area, Deputy Young tried to make contact with the Defendant and his Co-Defendant, who promptly ran in opposite directions.  Deputy Young gave chase to Billy Dean Lay and located him hiding in a bush, surrounded by the discarded methamphetamine and the paraphernalia.  When the Deputy attempted to take the Defendant into custody, the Defendant fled again.  Deputy Young was able to catch the Defendant and bring him to the ground where the Defendant continued to resist the officer.  Thanks to the help of a Good Samaritan who stopped to assist Deputy Young, they were able to get the Defendant under control and arrested him.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Nicole Reed and Alexis Sykes and investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.  Presiding Judge A. Keith Brace will set sentencing at a later date.

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