Today we celebrate the 51st anniversary of the day that State Attorney Glenn Hess joined the Army.  Thank you for your service!

— Your SAO Team

Press Release

On January 19, 2018, a Bay County jury convicted Darius Tyrell Middleton of Robbery, Tampering with a Victim or Witness, and Assault.

The State established that in the early morning hours between April 30, 2017, and May 1, 2017, the Defendant robbed one victim of approximately $400.00 and assaulted a second victim, in the area of Maple Avenue and 9th Street in Panama City, Florida.

After the Defendant’s arrest, Detective Donald Knorr with Panama City Police Department retrieved a jail call recording in which the Defendant asked another person to offer to pay one of the victims in exchange for dropping all charges.

This case was tried by Assistant State Attorney Barbara Beasley and Assistant State Attorney Nichole Pieper.  Sentencing is scheduled for March 5, 2018, before Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet. The Defendant is facing Prison Releasee Reoffender and Habitual Felony Offender sanctions.

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

Press Release

On January 18, 2018, after deliberating for 8 minutes, a Bay County jury convicted Miscal Lance Kimbell of Lewd or Lascivious Conduct and Soliciting Another to Commit Prostitution.

The State established that on August 9, 2017, the Defendant hired the 15 year old victim to do yard work at his residence.  After the work was completed, the Defendant solicited the minor victim, asking the victim to allow the Defendant to perform oral sex on the victim for $20.00.

The case was tried by Assistant State Attorney Barbara Beasley and Assistant State Attorney Nichole Pieper.  Sentencing is scheduled for February 14, 2018, before Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet.  The Defendant is facing fifteen years in prison and being designated as a sexual offender.

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

Press Release

Mark Graham Returns to the State Attorney’s Office in Expanded Major Crimes Division

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on January 2, 2018, Mark Graham rejoined the State Attorney’s Office.  Mr. Graham joins Assistant State Attorney Bob Sombathy, Major Crimes Chief, in the newly expanded Major Crimes Division.  Mr. Graham, a Bay County native, brings significant experience to his new position, having previously worked as an Assistant State Attorney for 18 years.  We welcome Mr. Graham back to the team!

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that two separate Jackson County juries convicted Xavier Malik Lampley and Derrick Lewis Knowles on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 and Wednesday, December 20, 2017 respectively.  Lampley was convicted of Burglary of a Dwelling while Armed, two counts of Grand Theft of a Firearm, Grand Theft, Fleeing and Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer (High Speed Reckless), and two counts of Fleeing and Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer.  Knowles was convicted of Burglary of a Dwelling while Armed, two counts of Grand Theft of a Firearm, and Grand Theft.

Assistant State Attorneys Tyler Land and Michelle Daffin proved to jurors that Lampley, 20, of Marianna and Knowles, 22, of Marianna, burglarized a home in the Indian Springs subdivision on January 27, 2017.  After being caught in the act by the homeowner’s housekeepers, Lampley and Knowles fled the scene and led police on a several mile high-speed chase through the city of Marianna, before crashing their vehicle and ultimately being apprehended.

Lampley faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment plus 40 years.  Knowles faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment plus 15 years.  Knowles also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison under Florida’s 10-20-Life law.  Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson will sentence Lampley and Knowles on January 16, 2018 at 9 a.m.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Friday, December 1, 2017, Circuit Judge Brantley Clark sentenced Angelo Derillo Baker to life in prison for Second Degree Murder with a Firearm.  Baker was sentenced under the 10/20/Life law.  He also received a consecutive sentence of 15 years of imprisonment for Shooting into a Dwelling.

Baker was found guilty as charged of both offenses on November 16, 2017, after a three-day jury trial.  During the trial, Assistant State Attorney Bob Sombathy, Chief of the Major Crimes Division, and Assistant State Attorney 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.

​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 21, 2017, Assistant State Attorneys Kyle Rash and Barbara Beasley presented evidence to a Bay County jury that Glen Alan Bradshaw stole property from his employer, Yesco Scaffolding, and later sold the property to a customer of the business after hours at the St. Andrew Marina.  The prosecution called three witnesses to establish the case beyond a reasonable doubt.  Captain Jason Daffin and Investigator Jarod Cutchin of the Bay County Sheriff’s Officer questioned the Defendant, who gave two different stories as to how he came to possess the stolen diamond tipped saw blades.  Dealing in Stolen Property is a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.  The jury deliberated approximately twenty-one minutes and returned a verdict of guilty as charged of Dealing in Stolen Property and Petit Theft.  Judge Michael Overstreet sentenced the Defendant to 55 months in prison.  The Defendant had been released from prison in 2013 and had a lengthy criminal record.

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

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on November 20, 2017, Panama City native John Maceluch, Jr., joined the Bay County office as an Assistant State Attorney in the felony division.  Mr. Maceluch brings a wealth of prosecutorial experience, having previously served as an Assistant State Attorney in the Second Judicial Circuit, and as a Bureau Chief for the Office of Statewide Prosecution, both in Tallahassee.  He has also served as legal advisor to the Statewide Grand Jury in Tampa.  We welcome Mr. Maceluch to the team!

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

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.