Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Thursday, November 16, 2017, Angelo Derillo Baker was found guilty as charged of Second Degree Murder with a Firearm and Shooting into a Dwelling.  During the three day trial, Assistant State Attorneys  Bob Sombathy and Frank Sullivan called fourteen witnesses to the stand to prove Baker was the man who shot Richard Washington Jr. on September 4, 2015, over a quarrel about drug-dealing territory.  The jury specifically found that Baker committed the crimes with a firearm thus subjecting him to sentencing under the 10/20/Life law.  The case was investigated by the Panama City Police Department.  Judge Brantley Clark scheduled a sentencing date for Baker on December 1, 2017.

​If you have any questions or need additional information, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford at ​(850) 832-5510.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on November 1, 2017, Barbara Finch will rejoin the State Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State Attorney in our Washington County office. Ms. Finch is a lifelong prosecutor, having previously worked as an Assistant State Attorney in our office for 30 years, serving in many roles, including Chief of the Jackson and Washington County offices, and as a felony division attorney in the Bay County office. We are happy to have Ms. Finch back on the team!

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on October 27, 2017, Assistant State Attorneys Devin Collier and Nichole Pieper presented evidence to a Bay County jury that 21 year old Landon Scott Allcox was in possession of more than 14 grams of Methamphetamine when he was stopped by Bay County Deputy Antonio Jones on March 31st of this year as he attempted to flee a home at 2719 East Eighth Plaza in Panama City.  The prosecution called four witnesses to establish that Allcox possessed the drugs.  Trafficking in Methamphetamine is a first degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.  Judge Michael Overstreet set a sentencing date of November 17th.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on October 25, 2017, a Bay County jury deliberated only 31 minutes before finding Kenneth Manhard guilty of DUI Manslaughter, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Death, and Driving while his License was Suspended.  Prosecutor Robert Sombathy, Chief of the Major Crimes Division, presented evidence that Manhard left a night club on Panama City Beach in his car during the early morning hours of April 17th in an intoxicated state and struck Jerry Jones as he was traveling east on a scooter across the Hathaway Bridge.  When Manhard arrived at another night club in Panama City, witnesses observed damage to his car and called the police.  The investigation conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol and the Panama City Police Department revealed that one or more witnesses observed Manhard in an intoxicated state prior to and immediately after the accident.  Judge Michael Overstreet will conduct a sentencing hearing on November 17th .

For additional information contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on October 17, 2017, Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson sentenced Leonard Parry, Jr., to 30 years in the Department of Corrections, followed by lifetime probation.  Parry was designated a Sexual Predator. Parry had previously been convicted by a jury of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation.  Assistant State Attorney Michelle Daffin established that on June 7, 2016 the defendant touched a five-year old child on the child’s genital area in a sexual manner.  The case was investigated by the Cottondale Police Department with assistance from the Child Protection Team.

If additional information is needed, please contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on September 28, 2017, a Bay County jury convicted Andrew Joseph Givens of Burglary with an Assault and/or Battery, Obstructing a 911 Call, False Imprisonment, and three counts of Sexual Battery by Threat of Force.  Assistant State Attorneys Brittany Forester and Devin Collier proved that the defendant held the victim hostage for three days.  During that time, the defendant repeatedly raped the victim while high on methamphetamine.  The defendant faces life in prison, and Circuit Judge Michael C. Overstreet has scheduled sentencing for November 13, 2017.

If additional information is needed, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Friday, September 22, 2017, Chase Michael Manning was convicted at trial of Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Felony Driving While License Suspended/Revoked, Possession of Paraphernalia, Resisting an Officer without Violence, and Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Damage.

The State established that on November 6, 2016, the Defendant crashed into a stopped motorist on Front Beach Road. The Defendant abandoned his vehicle in the parking lot of Mikato’s and fled the scene on foot. He was apprehended by Dep. Jesse Cieslik. Cpl. Nick Hall deployed his trained K-9 Lycan on the Defendant’s vehicle and received a positive alert. Inv. Steve O’Brien recovered 19.57 grams of Methamphetamine, a quantity of liquid GHB and GBL, and paraphernalia from the Defendant’s vehicle.

This case was tried by Assistant State Attorneys Barbara Beasley and Kyle Rash. Sentencing is scheduled for November 6, 2017 before Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet and the Defendant is facing Habitual Felony Offender sanctions.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Patterson sentenced Patrick Glenn Ellingburg, to a total of 30 years in prison to include a twenty year minimum mandatory sentence.  Ellingburg had previously been convicted by a jury of Robbery with a Firearm, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, and Grand Theft.

At a trial held on August 1, 2017, Assistant State Attorney Laura Parish presented the testimony of eight witnesses to establish that on June 28, 2016, the Defendant attempted to rob at least two different groups of tubers on the Chipola River and was successful in robbing one of those groups. The State also showed that during that robbery the Defendant discharged a firearm at a member of one of the group.  Investigator Martin Basford with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  The jury deliberated for twenty-six minutes before returning its verdict of guilty including the required special findings under Florida’s 10-20-Life Law.

Please contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford at 850-819-6985 with any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on August 31, 2017, a Bay County jury convicted father, Justin Lee Lanier, of Aggravated Child Neglect Causing Great Bodily Harm, after his 5-month-old daughter was rushed to a local hospital with six skull fractures, bleeding on her brain, and a badly bruised body.  After undergoing three emergency brain operations, one neurosurgeon testified that the child, due to abuse, had the largest head she had ever seen in the United States.

Lanier faces up to fifteen years in prison when sentenced before the Honorable Michael C. Overstreet on October 9, 2017.  The Panama City Police Department, Department of Children and Families, and members of the Child Protection Team investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Devin Collier and Brittany Forester.

If additional information is needed, please contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that:

A Bay County jury deliberated approximately one hour and forty-five minutes on August 23, 2017, before finding Christopher Powell guilty of one count of Attempted Second Degree Murder and one count of First Degree Murder.  The charges stemmed from an altercation that occurred on February 20,2016, at a residence located at the end of Owenwood Drive in Fountain, Florida.  The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call and discovered the body of Carla Hight, with massive trauma to her head.  They interviewed the other occupant of the home who had also been attacked and learned that Chris Powell and his wife, Tiffany Powell, were suspects.  As a result of a joint investigation between the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, the Powells were arrested in Alabama.  After the jury’s verdict, Judge Michael Overstreet immediately sentenced Christopher Powell to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the First Degree Murder of Ms. Hight and fifteen years in prison for the Attempted Second Degree Murder of Ms. Foxworthy.  The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford and Assistant State Attorney Lawrence Gill.

If additional information is needed, please contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.