Josh James, who joined the 14^th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office in August assisting with misdemeanor cases, is formally the office’s newest prosecutor after being sworn in Sept. 29.

State Attorney Larry Basford made the announcement that James, a recent graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., will handle misdemeanor cases in Bay County under Assistant State Attorney Nichole Pieper, Misdemeanor Supervisor.

James served as Head Intern at the Rutherford County District Attorney’s Office in Tennessee while finishing college, supervising interns and representing the state in routine hearings as well as helping prosecutors prepare for trial.

RELATED STORY: Mike “Caz” Cazalas, career journalist, switches gears to join State Attorney’s Office

Through that experience, James said, he “developed a passion for protecting the innocent and ensuring that justice is done.”

Prior to attending Belmont, James earned his B.A. in International Studies at the University of Arizona.

For additional information contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov.

MARIANNA – A childhood dream fueled by his love of the TV show “Adam 12” played out as crisply as one of the episodes for Dave Edmondson, who Monday celebrated his 30-year law enforcement career – the last 13 with the State Attorney’s Office – with a retirement luncheon.

Edmondson, 55, emphasized he was blessed to fulfill his career dreams and encouraged the 30-plus people at the luncheon to do the same.

“I found a way to make my dream come true,” he said. “Find your way.”

Larry Basford, 14th Judicial Circuit State Attorney, presented Edmondson with a plaque commemorating his service and a framed picture of the two of them in court, while thanking him for his service to both his country and community.

“I’ve found Dave to be honest, hard-working, knowledgeable, dependable and loyal,” Basford said.  “He sees the big picture and that’s very important … and he’s also a team player and all of these things are very important in the type of work that we do.

“When I asked people if they had one word they could say to describe him, I heard ‘diligent,’” Basford continued. “He could find almost any witness to be found in Jackson County.”

Edmondson began his law enforcement career in 1991 with the Sneads Police Department, moving from there to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office before joining the State Attorney’s Office about 13 years ago, working out of the Marianna office.

“The last couple of weeks have been kind of overwhelming … it’s hard to wrap your mind around leaving what you’ve been doing for 30 years,” Edmondson said. “I can’t believe it’s been 30 years.”

Edmondson began his career as a patrolman, worked property and sex crimes as an investigator, was part of a multi-agency task force for more than 10 years and worked undercover as well. His “favorite,” he said, was when he served as a tactical officer.

“I’ve had a great career, I’ve had the opportunity to do exactly everything that I wanted to do in police work,” he said.

Basford pointed to two major cases as highlights of Edmondson’s work.

One was the horrific murders of Danielle Baker, 19, and her three sons – ages 3, 1 and 3 weeks – in her apartment in 2005. Basford said Edmondson’s work on that complex case helped lead to a successful prosecution and conviction in 2009. Williams is serving four life sentences.

The second was the murder of a 19-day-old infant in Graceville in 2017.

“I want you to know how hard Dave worked on that,” Basford said. “I was there that night, it happened up in Graceville, you start thinking about that case and I get emotional, I know Dave does too.

“Dave was one of the lead investigators on that case, it was cold, it was long, and he did a fantastic job on that case. He worked closely with Mark Graham and helped see it through to a successful prosecution.”

The mother, Lisette Taylor, was convicted of aggravated manslaughter in February and is serving a 23-year sentence.

Other speakers included former State Attorney Glenn Hess, retired Circuit Court Judge and current Assistant State Attorney Bill Wright, Assistant State Attorney Shalla Jefcoat, and former Jackson County Sheriff’s Office coworker Jeff Snell

For additional information contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov.

The Office of the State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on Thursday, September 30, 2021, a Bay County Jury found Rachel Dianne Ladner guilty as charged of Attempted Second-Degree Murder with a Weapon.

Evidence presented at trial proved that on July 27, 2019, Corporal Curtis Bland of the Panama City Police Department responded to a call regarding an injured person. After investigation, Panama City Police Detective Matthew Kelly arrested Rachel Dianne Ladner for hitting a local homeowner with a cinder block causing severe lacerations to the victim’s ear and head. Ms. Ladner claimed the act was committed in self-defense, however, Corporal Bland found her still on scene, in bed with the victim, who was unconscious and covered in blood, over ten hours after the incident.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Elizabeth P. Magee and Jae Hee Kim. The Defendant will be sentenced by the Honorable Christopher Patterson on October 12, 2021. Attempted Second-Degree Murder with a Weapon is a first-degree felony, punishable by a maximum of 30 years in the Department of Corrections.

For more information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that this week in Bay County Circuit Court a jury of 4 men and 2 women found that Larry Stanfill met the criteria under the State’s Sexually Violent Predator Act.  Stanfill was originally convicted of Lewd and Lascivious Acts on a Child and sentenced to prison in 2014 after violating his probation for a prior felony.  The State’s experts testified Stanfill posed a significant threat to society if not confined to a secure facility to receive treatment for his various sexual disorders – including pedophilia.

Judge Elijah Smiley deemed Stanfill a sexually violent predator under Florida law and ordered him confined in the Florida Civil Commitment Center in Arcadia, Florida for further treatment and control.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Zachary Taylor.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on September 21, 2021, Anthony Charles Chancellor was found guilty by jury of Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition, a 2^nd degree felony punishable up to 15 years in prison and sexual offender designation.  Sentencing is scheduled for November 4, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. before the Honorable Ana Maria Garcia.

Cpl. Jacob McGowin with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Barbara Beasley and Jacob Cook.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on September 8, 2021, Matt Riemer joined the office full time as a State Attorney Investigator.  Matt has been working with the office as a process server since 2019, and previously assisted us with building security during the repairs to our main office after Hurricane Michael.

Prior to joining the State Attorney’s Office, Matt was the Chief of Police for the City of Lynn Haven, retiring in 2019 after 25 years of service.  He also previously worked for the City of Lynn Haven Department of Public Safety, Fire Department, and Public Works Department.  We welcome Matt to our team!

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on September 2, 2021, a Bay County jury found Dewey Nathaniel Davis II guilty as charged of Grand Theft and Tampering with a Court Ordered Electronic Monitoring Device.

On June 10, 2020, the Defendant was released from Columbia Correctional Institute. As a condition of his release, the Defendant was required to wear an ankle monitor. The day after his release, the Defendant removed the ankle monitor from his person and discarded it. The Defendant’s whereabouts were unknown until he was arrested by the Panama City Police Department on August 17, 2020.

The case was investigated by the Florida Department of Corrections and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Jacob Cook and Dustin Miller. The Defendant was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Ana Maria Garcia to 17 months in the Florida Department of Corrections.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on August 31, 2021, a Bay County jury found Luis Fabian Moran Rivas guilty as charged of Aggravated Battery on a Pregnant Person. 

On February 22, 2020, the Panama City Police Department responded to a domestic violence call at the Foxwood apartments in Panama City. After investigation, it was determined that Mr. Rivas had pushed the Victim down and kicked her in the back and stomach. The Victim was 6 months pregnant with the Defendant’s child.  A neighbor witnessed the attack and called the police. 

The case was investigated by Detective Robert Johnson of the Panama City Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Jacob Cook and Jae Hee Kim. The Defendant will be sentenced by the Honorable Judge Ana Maria Garcia on October 5, 2021.  Aggravated Battery on a Pregnant Person is a second degree felony, punishable by a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in the Florida Department of Corrections. 

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on August 31, 2021, Senior Circuit Judge Dedee Costello sentenced Tevin Rashad Brown to 25 years in prison. He was sentenced as a Habitual Violent Felony Offender based on his previous convictions for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Brown entered an open plea on August 2, 2021, to Trafficking in Illegal Drugs (Heroin), Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Actual Possession), Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Tampering with Evidence, Resisting Officer without Violence, and Driving While License Canceled, Suspended or Revoked.

On September 9, 2020, members of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Division conducted surveillance on Kacy Lane after receiving credible information that the Defendant would be conducting a drug sale at that location. Research conducted prior to that day revealed that the Defendant was a convicted felon and his driver license was suspended. Investigators witnessed the Defendant drive up to an address on Kacy Lane and he was arrested for Driving While License Suspended or Revoked. A search of the Defendant’s person incident to arrest found he had a Smith and Wesson 9mm firearm in his waist and a trafficking amount of heroin in his pocket which he attempted to destroy after arrest. A search of the Defendant’s vehicle revealed pre-cut pieces of crack cocaine and fentanyl pills. In his post-Miranda interview, the Defendant admitted that he came to the location to sell heroin and that the items found in the car belonged to him.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Lynelle Dowe and Jennifer Lieb. The case agent was Investigator Phillip Hill of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on August 25, 2021, a Bay County jury found Ivan Ferrer Perdomo guilty as charged of Robbery with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Battery, False Imprisonment, Grand Theft Motor Vehicle, and Tampering with a Victim or Witness.

Perdomo was a long time friend of the victim and, at the time, was out on parole for prior felony sentences he had received. An argument earlier in the day involving a woman led to the victim calling police. Perdomo, knowing his parole would be violated, ran from police, later disclosing that he had hidden in an unknown crawl space under the floor in the victim’s laundry room. Hours passed and Perdomo emerged from his hiding spot and attacked the victim with a knife while the victim was in the shower. Perdomo then made the victim get dressed after cutting him in the face with the knife. Perdomo beat the victim, tied his hands and legs, and gagged him. Perdomo robbed the victim of his money, medication, and truck. Perdomo then told the victim that if the victim made a sound prior to him leaving, he would kill the victim and the victim’s sister, who was in the kitchen. Perdomo then left the bedroom, stealing the truck and all the victim’s phones. Perdomo later fled to Miami and to Texas before being apprehended with the help of the U.S. Marshals.

The case was investigated by the Panama City Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Peter Overstreet and Jae Hee Kim. The Defendant was immediately sentenced to life in prison as a Prison Releasee Reoffender by the Honorable Judge Christopher Patterson.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.