Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on June 21, 2018, Brandon Maurice Turntime entered a plea to Second Degree Felony Murder and Home Invasion Robbery with a Firearm and was sentenced to 25 years in the Department of Corrections, with the first 10 years to be served day-for-day due to the 10-20-Life law.  On December 4, 2017, the Defendant and Peyton Meyers, both armed with firearms, broke into an apartment on the 5th floor at the 100 building of 79 West Apartments and told the occupants to get on the floor, demanding drugs and money.  As the Defendant and Meyers left, one of the occupants attacked Meyers, attempting to retrieve her property. During the struggle with the occupant, Meyers appeared to be attempting to shoot the occupant that had attacked him and at that moment one of the other occupants shot Meyers two times.  The Defendant fled the scene but was apprehended a short distance from the crime scene. Meyers was pronounced dead at the scene.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Mark E. Graham and the case was investigated by the Panama City Beach Police Department.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

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

On June 8, 2018, a Jackson County Grand Jury returned an indictment for First Degree Murder against Frederick W. Patterson III, age 21, for killing his cellmate, Arthur Williams, by beating him with his fists and feet.

The homicide occurred at the Jackson County Correctional Facility in Marianna on January 15, 2018.  It was investigated by the Marianna Police Department.

Patterson is currently serving a Life sentence for Second Degree Murder.  On October 2, 2015, Patterson, while housed at Apalachee Correctional Institution in Sneads, Florida, used his hands and feet to beat his cellmate, Scott Collinsworth, to death.  He will be arraigned on June 19, 2018, before Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that 76 year old William Hawk was sentenced to 25 years in prison after accepting a plea to two counts of second degree murder and one count of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.  On February 11, 2017, Hawk shot and killed his girlfriend, Mary Reed and her friend, Kassi Henderson at Mrs. Reed’s home in Jackson County.  When confronted by arresting deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Hawk refused to drop his handgun and was subsequently shot.

Hawk recovered from his injuries, but was then sent to the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee after being found legally incompetent to proceed.  On June 5, 2018, Judge Chris Patterson found Hawk restored to competency based on the most recent evaluation from the State Hospital.  Hawk acknowledged that by accepting the 25 year offer, it would most likely amount to a life sentence for a man of his age.  “I understand that I will die in prison”, Hawk told Judge Patterson.  The case was prosecuted by Bob Sombathy, Chief of Major Crimes and the lead investigator was Sgt. Billy Benton of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on May 31, 2018, Deanthony Dinkins, 20, pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and was sentenced to 50 years in prison by Circuit Judge Brantley Clark.  Dinkins murdered his cellmate at the Bay County jail on October 11, 2017, by striking Jordan Whitsett multiple times in the head with 2 dinner trays wrapped inside a sheet.  Dinkins later confessed to the murder in a statement taken by Lieutenant Chris Coram of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Bob Sombathy, Chief of Major Crimes.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, Darius White was found guilty by a Bay County jury of Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 20 Grams and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Evidence presented at trial demonstrated that the Panama City Police Department Street Investigations Unit executed a search warrant on the Defendant’s girlfriend’s house on December 29, 2017, and located approximately 400 grams of marijuana throughout the house, as well as various drug paraphernalia.  During the trial, the State presented testimony from Corporal Darby Gay of PCPD, and the jury heard jail calls that were made while the search warrant was being served where the Defendant claimed ownership of the marijuana.  Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet scheduled sentencing for June 11, 2018.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Nicole Reed and Peter Overstreet.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Friday, May 25, 2018, a Washington County jury convicted Danny Underwood of two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and three counts of Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle.  Testimony revealed that Underwood had fired several shots from a .22 caliber revolver after his wife had engaged in a verbal altercation with neighbors.  The shooting resulted in damage to two vehicles and injury to an 18-year old man that was attempting to break up the argument.  Circuit Judge Timothy Register scheduled sentencing for June 14, 2018.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Shalla Jefcoat.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, a Washington County jury convicted Joseph McLeroy of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement, Child Abuse, and Driving on a Suspended License.  McLeroy, whose license was suspended at the time, led officers on a chase through the City of Chipley.  During the chase McLeroy failed to obey traffic signs and nearly avoided at least one accident.  Once McLeroy’s vehicle was stopped, a 19-month old child was found in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.  The child was not restrained in a car seat.  According to McLeroy’s testimony, he had picked the child up in Panama City, FL and was transporting the child home to a local residence.  Circuit Judge Timothy Register scheduled sentencing for June 14, 2018.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Shalla Jefcoat.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on May 25th, 2018, a Bay County jury found Alicia Goodwin guilty as charged of Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 20 grams and Possession of Paraphernalia.  The charges arose when Panama City Police Department executed a search warrant on the Defendant’s hotel room on April 15th, 2017.  Evidence presented at trial demonstrated that during the search, Sgt. Dustin Patterson found a digital scale sitting in plain view on the Defendant’s bed, and Inv. Curtis Bland found two bags of marijuana hidden in the Defendant’s trash can.  The jury heard testimony from FDLE Analyst Jeremiah Bortle, who tested the substance and confirmed that it was 66.88 grams of marijuana.  After deliberating for about ten minutes, the jury returned guilty verdicts as to both counts.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Calie Rivera and Nichole Pieper.  Judge Overstreet scheduled the Defendant’s sentencing for July 13th, 2018.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on May 22, 2018, Kevin John Butler was found guilty by a Bay County jury of Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Serious Bodily Injury and Reckless Driving Causing Serious Bodily Injury.  The jury heard from the victim, Jacque Carte; Trooper Ronald Ward; Deputy Alex Young; Dr. Cyril Desilva; and U.S. Navy Master Chief Tyson Hoover.  Mr. Carte was driving his Harley Davidson motorcycle eastbound on Thomas Drive on February 3, 2017 around 10:45 pm.  The Defendant was driving his Jeep westbound and crossed in the oncoming lane and struck Mr. Carte.  Mr. Carte suffered several injuries including a broken neck.  The Defendant failed to stop and assist Mr. Carte and crossed back over the median and the westbound lanes and struck a mailbox and hit a covered porch/carport multiple times attempting to free his vehicle from the damage.  Master Chief Hoover came out of his condominium and attempted to stop the Defendant but the Defendant, after freeing his vehicle, drove back across all four lanes of traffic and crashed in the south side shoulder of Thomas Drive.  Master Chief Hoover ran over to Mr. Carte and rendered aide and then went to the Jeep and prevented the Defendant from leaving the scene.  Trooper Ward, Deputy Young, and Master Chief Hoover all testified that the Defendant was heavily intoxicated by alcoholic beverages.

The jury deliberated approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes before returning the guilty verdicts.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Barbie Beasley and Mark Graham.  Circuit Judge Michael C. Overstreet scheduled sentencing for July 9th, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.

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

Press Release

Multiple Sexual Predators Sentenced to Prison

On Monday, May 14, 2018, Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet imposed lengthy sentences for three defendants previously convicted of sexual offenses.

Timothy Abney was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with lifetime sexual predator probation to follow his prison term.  He was designated a Sexual Predator.  A Bay County jury previously found Abney guilty of two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation of a Victim Less than 12 Years of Age.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Peter Overstreet and Nicole Reed.

Billy Mathis was sentenced to 3 terms of life imprisonment and was designated a Sexual Predator.  A Bay County jury previously found Mathis guilty of Sexual Battery on a Victim Less than 12 Years of Age, and two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Peter Overstreet and Lawrence Gill.

Johnny Ray Strickland was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with lifetime sexual predator probation to follow his prison term. He was designated a Sexual Predator.  A Bay County jury previously found Strickland guilty of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Peter Overstreet and Lawrence Gill.