Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on July 1, 2021, a Bay County Jury found Thomas King guilty of Capital Sexual Battery on a Victim Under the Age of 12.  Evidence presented at trial proved that King had been having sex with the victim from ages 9-11.  King was like a grandparent to the child involved and a family friend.  The disclosure of the abuse occurred after the mother saw the child accessing a cell phone with inappropriate content.  The mother then reviewed her in-home surveillance, which captured the defendant calling the victim into a bedroom and performing sexual acts on the victim outside of the camera’s view.  The jury deliberated for 30 minutes before returning with a verdict.

The Defendant was immediately sentenced to Life in prison without the possibility of parole by Senior Circuit Judge Dedee Costello.  He was also designated a sexual predator.

The case was investigated by the Panama City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Peter Overstreet and Dustin Miller.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on July 1, 2021, 36 year-old Adam Keith Horne was sentenced to two life sentences and one 10 year sentence.  The sentences will run concurrently on each count.  Mr. Horne was previously found guilty by a Bay County jury in June 2021 of Kidnapping, Robbery with a Deadly Weapon, and Grand Theft Motor Vehicle.  Judge Clark imposed the life sentences after receiving and hearing evidence regarding Mr. Horne’s prior convictions.  Mr. Horne had numerous prior felony convictions from North Carolina and had just been released from prison in North Carolina approximately six months before committing these crimes in Bay County.

The case was investigated by Panama City Beach Police Department with assistance from Bay County Sheriff’s Office and FDLE.  It was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Lieb and Lynelle Dowe.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on June 29, 2021, a Bay County Jury found Stanley Woods guilty of Sexual Battery with a Deadly Weapon / Serious Bodily Injury, Aggravated Battery, Kidnapping, and Domestic Battery by Strangulation.

Evidence presented at trial proved that the Defendant accused the victim of cheating on him and became enraged.  He then raped the victim for over 6 hours while confining her in his trailer.  During the 6 hours he beat the victim repeatedly and strangled her with an extension cord.

The Parker Police Department investigated the case with the help of the Gulf Coast Sexual Assault Program.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Peter Overstreet and Dustin Miller.  The Defendant is a 5-time felon and is facing life imprisonment.  Sentencing is set for July 13, 2021, before the Honorable Judge Christopher Patterson.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on June 29, 2021, a Jackson County Jury found Timothy John Jokinen Guilty as Charged of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation.

Evidence presented at trial proved that on November 25, 2019, the Defendant visited the Victim’s family at the Grand Ridge Park at the corner of Broadway Street and Porter Avenue in Grand Ridge, Florida. While the Victim’s father was in the restroom, the Defendant began to place his hands down the pants of the Victim in a lewd and lascivious manner. An eyewitness exiting the restroom caught the Defendant in the act of molesting the Victim. Two more eyewitnesses on the scene also were able to observe the Defendant’s actions and confronted him about those actions before calling local law enforcement. The facts at trial went on to prove that the Defendant was over the age of 18 at the time and the Victim was under the age of 12.

Once law enforcement arrived on the scene, and after a thorough investigation, the Defendant was arrested and charged with the crime. Subsequently, the Victim was interviewed by the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center’s Child Protective Team and further evidence of the abuse was disclosed that incriminated the Defendant.

The State Attorney’s Office would like to thank Deputy Brandon Arroyo and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for their hard work, professionalism, and diligent investigation of this case. The State Attorney’s Office would also like to thank the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center for their diligence in this investigation and all witnesses who came forward to help protect the Victim in this case and assist in the prosecution.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Benjamin Keown and Shalla Jefcoat. The Defendant faces up to life imprisonment in the Department of Corrections with a minimum mandatory of 25 years incarceration. Sentencing is set for August 20, 2021, at 3 pm before the Honorable James J. Goodman.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

On July 4, 2020, Raul Ambriz Guillen was shot and killed in Holmes County, Florida. His body was taken to a remote location and buried.  After a long investigation and important tips from the public, Mr. Guillen’s body was discovered on August 25, 2020, by the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department with the assistance of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.  The 14th Circuit Medical Examiner’s office determined that Mr. Guillen died from a single gunshot wound to the back of his head.

PRESS RELEASE

Retired State Attorney Glenn Hess Wins the Eugene Whitworth Memorial Award

On June 21, 2021, State Attorney Larry Basford had the honor of presenting retired State Attorney Glenn Hess with the Eugene Whitworth Memorial Award.  This award is given by the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association to recognize outstanding achievements and contributions to the criminal justice system made by a State Attorney.  Mr. Hess received this award for his years of service to the citizens of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, including five years as an Assistant State Attorney, 13 years as a Circuit Judge and 12 years as State Attorney.  Mr. Hess also previously served as the President of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association for two years, as well as serving in several other roles in the Association.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

PRESS RELEASE

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, a Bay County jury convicted William Cooper Brandt of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on June 18, 2021, a Bay County jury deliberated for 25 minutes before finding Michael Vincent Fogarty guilty as charged of Sexual Battery on a Helpless Person.

The testimony and evidence presented at trial proved that the victim was found by her fiancé unconscious with her clothes askew in the early morning hours of April 1, 2017. After being rushed to the ER, a sexual assault exam was performed with the victims consent. The DNA swabs collected from the victim came back implicating the Defendant with the sexual battery, at which time he was charged when the crime.

The case was investigated by Cpl. Preston Allyn and the Panama City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Nicole Reed and Lynelle Dowe. The Defendant faces up to 30 years in the department of corrections, and is scheduled for sentencing July 23rd before the Honorable Judge Dustin Stephenson.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on June 9, 2021, a Bay County jury convicted 36 year-old Adam Keith Horne of Kidnapping, Robbery with a Deadly Weapon, and Grand Theft Motor Vehicle.

Evidence presented at trial included testimony from the then 80-year-old victim who told the jury she offered Horne and his girlfriend, Rachel Price, a ride when they said their friends had left them at Walmart in Panama City Beach. After getting in the car, Horne pulled a knife on the victim and held it to her throat. Even though the victim offered to give them the car, they would not let her go. When the victim had to stop for gas, she was able to get away. Horne and his girlfriend went on to steal a vehicle from another victim and were eventually caught in that vehicle. Recordings of Horne speaking with law enforcement officers were also presented at trial during which Horne admitted to holding the victim hostage. DNA evidence also linked Horne to the knife recovered from the victim’s car. Horne’s girlfriend, Rachel Price, had previously been convicted at trial of her charges arising from these same acts.

The jury deliberated for less than 20 minutes before finding Horne guilty as charged on all counts. Sentencing is scheduled for July 1, 2021, before the Honorable Brantley S. Clark, Jr, where Horne faces a sentence of life in prison. The case was investigated by Panama City Beach Police Department with assistance from Bay County Sheriff’s Office and FDLE. It was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Lieb and Lynelle Dowe.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release:

The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on May 14, 2021, a Bay County jury found Kristina Kay Heming guilty of Grand Theft Over $100,000.

Evidence presented at trial proved that between January 2014 and January 2017, while working for Emerald View Association Management, the defendant, who was in charge of the company’s books and finances, managed to steal nearly half a million dollars by giving herself extra paychecks, by using company credit and bank cards for personal purchases, and by misappropriating over $200,000 in cash. Thousands of pages of bank statements, credit card statements, bank account records, as well as the company books, showed that in all, the defendant embezzled over $440,000 from Emerald View Association Management.

Sentencing is set for May 28, 2021, before Circuit Judge Dustin Stephenson, and the defendant faces up to a maximum 30 years in prison. This case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Frank Sullivan and Lynelle Dowe.

For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.