Press Release

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

On August 31, 2017, Leonard Parry, Jr. was convicted of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation.  Assistant State Attorney Michelle Daffin established that on June 7, 2016 the defendant had touched a five-year old child on the child’s genital area in a sexual manner.  This case was investigated by the Cottondale Police Department with assistance from the Child Protection Team.  Judge Christopher Patterson has scheduled sentencing for October 10, 2017.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces the following:

On August 29, 2017, a six-member jury found Richard Leland McPeek guilty of Possession of Methamphetamine. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover controlled buy from the Defendant at the McDonald’s off of Highway 77 by the Panama City Mall on June 2nd, 2016.  Judge Michael Overstreet sentenced the Defendant to 48 months in the Florida Department of Corrections.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Jacob Cook and Brittany Forester.

Please contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford with any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on 8/24/2017, Bobby Joe Davis was convicted of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of Methamphetamine, Resisting an Officer without Violence, Possession of Less Than 20 Grams Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia.

The State established that on March 21, 2017, Deputy Evans of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office stopped the Defendant for a bicycle light infraction.  During the stop, the Defendant began to empty his pockets and methamphetamine was discovered.  Deputy Evans attempted to arrest the Defendant and a struggle ensued.  The Defendant battered the Deputy by elbowing him in the chest, ramming his shoulder into his chest and shoving him across a room.

This case was tried by Assistant State Attorney Barbara Beasley and Assistant State Attorney Kyle Rash.  Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet sentenced the Defendant to 48 Months in the Department of Corrections followed by 60 months of drug offender probation.

Please contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford with any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on August 23, 2017, a Washington County jury found Stephen Allen Eaton, Jr,. guilty of Lewd or Lascivious Conduct. The State established that in December of 2015 Eaton had touched the breast of a 14 year old girl and asked her to have sex with him.  Eaton had been released from prison just 7 months before committing this act.  The case was investigated by Jason Cook and Lealan Lykins of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and was tried by Assistant State Attorney Shalla P. Jefcoat.  Judge Colby Peel scheduled sentencing for September 22, 2017.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on 8/22/17, Samuel Timothy Stokes was convicted of two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Battery and one count of Attempt to Commit Unlawful Sexual Activity with a Minor. Assistant State Attorney Shalla Phelps Jefcoat established that between August 17, 2013 and August 17, 2016, the defendant had engaged in sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 16 and had attempted to engage in sexual intercourse with a child on a third occasion. This case was investigated by Investigator Kenny Brock of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Gulf Coast Child Advocacy Center. Judge Colby Peel has scheduled sentencing for September 22, 2017 at 9:00 AM.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on August 1, 2017, a Bay County Jury found Shawn Michael McDuffey, Jr., guilty as charged of Kidnapping and Robbery.  On August 17, 2017, a Bay County Jury found Brian Miley guilty as charged of Kidnapping and Robbery.

On January 2, 2017, McDuffey and Miley, along with co-defendants, Grant Jones and Cheyenne Bentley, drove from Marianna, Florida to Panama City to purchase Adderall pills from the victim.  During the encounter, the victim entered the car with McDuffey and his co-defendants.  The car sped off and the group began to beat the victim and go through his pockets, stealing his wallet, cell phone and Adderall pills.  The victim was badly beaten and dumped on the side of the road after being knocked unconscious.  The victim was able to run home and notify police.  Investigators with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded and investigated the case leading to the arrest of McDuffey, Miley, Bentley, and Jones.

On August 23, 2017, Shawn McDuffey, Jr., and Brian Miley were sentenced to Life in Prison without the possibility of parole or release as Prison Releasee ReOffenders.  Cheyenne Bentley also pled guilty to Judge Clark and will be sentenced on September 20, 2017.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Wednesday, August 3, 2017, Bay County Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark sentenced Albert Hayes, II, to a total of 90.59 years in prison and designated him a sexual offender.  Hayes had previously been convicted by a jury of six counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery.

At a trial held on July 6, 2017, Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Hawkins and Alyssa Yarbrough presented the testimony of four witnesses to establish that the Defendant met a fifteen year old, on six different occasions in Bay County, Florida to engage in sexual acts with her between January of 2016 and March of 2017.  Investigator Brent Patrick with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  The jury deliberated for a little over one hour before returning its verdict.

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 Tuesday, August 1, 2017, a Bay County Jury found Shawn Michael McDuffey, Jr., guilty as charged of Kidnapping and Robbery.  Assistant State Attorney Peter Overstreet presented evidence that on January 2, 2017, McDuffey, along with his co-defendants, Grant Jones, Cheyenne Bentley, and Brian Miley, drove from Marianna, Florida to Panama City to purchase Adderall pills from the victim.  During the encounter, the victim entered the car with McDuffey and his co-defendants.  The car sped off and the group began to beat the victim and go through his pockets, stealing his wallet, cell phone and Adderall pills.  The victim was badly beaten and dumped on the side of the road after being knocked unconscious.  The victim was able to run home and notify police.  Investigators with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded and investigated the case leading to the arrest of McDuffey, Miley, Bentley, and Jones.  He now faces mandatory life in prison as a prison releasee reoffender under Florida Law.  His sentencing will be August 23, 2017.

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

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces the following:

On July 28th, 2017, a six-member jury found William Earl Riley guilty as charged of Burglary of a Conveyance and Grand Theft.  On May 22nd, 2016, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office received a call about the burglary of a camper in the northern part of Bay County.  DNA evidence tied the Defendant directly to the scene of the crime.  Sentencing is scheduled for August 15th.

The State’s case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Devin Collier and Jacob Cook.

Press Release

On 7/12/2017, Stephen Ray Carson was convicted of Tampering with Evidence and Possession of Methamphetamine.  The State established that on December 21, 2016, Officer Oquendo from the Springfield Police Department performed a traffic stop on a vehicle that ran a stop sign at Bob Little Road and 11th Street.  During the stop, Officer Oquendo came into contact with the Defendant, who was a passenger in the vehicle.  The occupants were detained due to identification and driver’s license issues.  Officer Oquendo also noticed open containers of alcohol within the vehicle and began to write citations.  During the stop, the Defendant attempted to empty his pockets of pills while the officers were questioning the other occupants of the vehicle.  The Defendant, however, was caught on dash cam footage emptying his pockets and stomping on the pills.  Deputy Bentley with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office noticed the crushed pills on the ground and notified Oquendo.  The Defendant was then arrested and searched.  A search of Carson’s pockets revealed a small bag of methamphetamine.  A Bay County jury convicted the Defendant in just 4 minutes.

This case was tried by Assistant State Attorney Peter Overstreet and Assistant State Attorney Calie Rivera.  Circuit Judge Brantley Clark sentenced the Defendant to 18 Months in the Department of Corrections.

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