Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 29, 2019, Amanda Kincaid joined our Bay County office as an Assistant State Attorney in the Misdemeanor Division.  Ms. Kincaid is a Panama City native who graduated from Florida State University with a B.A. in English with a minor in Russian, and a B.A. in Italian with a minor in Chinese.  She then obtained a J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.  She previously worked as an Associate Attorney at James F. Gray, P.A., in Gainesville, Florida, and McConnaughhay, Coonrod, Pope, Weaver, Stern, P.A. in Gainesville and Ocala, Florida.  We welcome Ms. Kincaid 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 July 24, 2019, a Bay County jury found Marcus Deangelo Slaughter guilty as charged of committing a Lewd or Lascivious Act upon a Disabled Person.  Slaughter molested a young disabled man while at one of the local gym locker rooms on April 11, 2018.  After the molestation, the Defendant was investigated by the Panama City Police Department.   Evidence showed that Slaughter was alone with the victim in the locker room when he molested him.  Witnesses were able to identify Slaughter as the only person alone with the victim at the time of the molestation.  Slaughter later lied to law enforcement, claiming he was in Ohio when police came looking for him.  At trial, Slaughter claimed that the victim was mistaken or lying about the molestation.  Slaughter is set for sentencing before the Honorable Chief Judge Christopher Patterson on September 10, 2019.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 19, 2019, Daniel Joseph Pate, 17, pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder with a Firearm, and Battery in a County Jail or Detention Facility.  Daniel Pate was sentenced to 25 years in prison, day for day, by Judge James Goodman, Jr., for the murder of his uncle, Michael Dewitt Pate.  The investigation revealed that on November 6, 2017, Michael drove to meet with Daniel at his residence.  An argument ensued and Daniel pointed a hunting rifle at Michael and shot him in the left eye while Michael sat in his vehicle.  After Daniel shot Michael, he removed Michael from the vehicle and left him lying on the ground.  Daniel then got into Michael’s vehicle and left the scene.  Daniel first called his father who advised him to notify 911 and turn himself in.  Daniel then called 911; confessed to the crime and advised that he was standing by at the Bethlehem Baptist Church waiting to turn himself in.  Officers arrived on scene and found Daniel sitting in Michael’s vehicle.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney, Mark E. Graham, and was investigated by Jeff Snell with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, the Honorable Judge Patterson sentenced Samuel Leo Ricky Solomon to 30 years in prison.  Solomon was convicted at trial of Attempted Second Degree Murder with a Weapon on June 20, 2019.  In January 2019, Mr. Solomon made an unprovoked attack on the mother of his children where he stabbed her multiple times in the chest.  Mr. Solomon was stopped by two Good Samaritans who heard the victim screaming.  Mr. Solomon has over 10 felony convictions, including prior convictions for violence against the same victim and against law enforcement.

The case was investigated by the Springfield Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Alexis Sykes and Nichole Pieper.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 18, 2019, a Bay County jury convicted Roderick Dometrias Davenport of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition in the Presence of Child, and Tampering with a Victim.
This case was investigated by Detective Christian Shaw with the Panama City Police Department.  The Defendant has 10 prior felony convictions.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Barbara Beasley and Assistant State Attorney Phillip Stamman. Sentencing will be scheduled before Circuit Judge Ana Maria Garcia and the Defendant is facing the possibility of life in prison and being designated a sexual predator.

For additional information, contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 11, 2019, Guillermo Serna Lopez pled guilty to DUI Manslaughter and Driving with No Valid License Resulting in Death.  Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson sentenced Lopez to the maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

The State was prepared to prove that on March 4, 2018, Lopez operated a Dodge Ram truck while under the influence of alcohol and struck the victim, Kimberly Mason, as she operated a Honda Accord at the intersection of SR-79 and Highway 98 in Bay County.  Ms. Mason died instantly from the crash.  Lopez later admitted to consuming alcohol prior to the crash.  His blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit.

The case was investigated by the Panama City Beach Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Peter Overstreet.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 9, 2019, a Bay County jury found Tabatha Ford guilty of Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Injury.  Evidence presented at trial proved that the defendant struck Danielle Baskerville with her vehicle in the parking lot of Players and sped off without stopping.

The case was investigated by the Panama City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Frank Sullivan.  Sentencing is set for July 26 in front of the Honorable Judge Dustin Stephenson.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 2, 2019, a six-member Bay County jury found Kiersten Thompson guilty of Driving Under the Influence Causing Serious Bodily Injury.

Evidence presented at trial proved that on March 11, 2017, Thompson was visiting Panama City Beach with some friends for a girls’ Spring Break trip.  Thompson had been drinking a combination of alcohol throughout the day when she got into an argument with her friends.  Thompson decided she wanted to leave alone and return to her home in North Carolina in the middle of night.  However, Thompson’s friends had some of her personal belongings and refused to give them back to Thompson because they believed her to be too impaired to safely drive her car.  This led to a confrontation at a parking lot across from the Legacy by the Sea hotel.

Thompson insisted on driving and an argument escalated between herself and one of her good friends, Kassie Gilley.  Thompson was in the driver’s seat of her packed vehicle.  Ms. Gilley was outside the vehicle near the driver’s seat, and behind the open front door.  Thompson proceeded to physically attack Ms. Gilley.  When the rest of the girls came to help Ms. Gilley, and to attempt to stop Thompson from driving, Thompson placed the vehicle in reverse and rapidly accelerated.  As Thompson was reversing, she struck a few of the girls, causing minor injuries.  Unfortunately, Ms. Gilley was caught under the driver’s door and drug on the asphalt for several feet.  Thompson only stopped the vehicle to place it in drive.  Thompson accelerated away from the scene, striking Ms. Gilley a second time.  The second collision broke Ms. Gilley’s pelvis in two different places.  Ms. Gilley had to undergo a serious surgical operation and complete months of physical therapy as a result of the injury.  However, Ms. Gilley testified that she still feels pain every day from the incident.

Thompson was apprehended at a gas station about 15 minutes down the road.  There, she admitted to drinking and consented to giving a sample of her breath.  Thompson’s breath alcohol level was measured at .117 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.  The legal limit in the State of Florida is .08.

The jury deliberated around four hours before returning a verdict of guilty.  Thompson faces up to five years in the Florida Department of Corrections.  Circuit Judge Brantley Clark, Jr., will sentence Thompson on August 20th, 2019.  Assistant State Attorneys Cord Grimes and Chelsea Stewart prosecuted the case with the help of the Panama City Beach Police Department.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 1, 2019, Circuit Judge Brantley S. Clark, Jr., sentenced Jonathan Bennett to a life sentence in the Department of Corrections.  Bennett was found guilty as charged of First Degree Murder with a Firearm on June 12, 2019.

Assistant State Attorney Bob Sombathy, Chief of Major Crimes, and Assistant State Attorney Cord Grimes proved that on May 29, 2017, Jonathan Bennett shot the victim, Cody Darby, once directly in the throat, but claimed he acted in self-defense. Bennett and Darby were roommates and had exchanged words earlier in the morning of May 29, 2017.  Bennett left the residence abruptly; went to his grandmother’s home to retrieve a 410 shotgun; returned to the residence and walked directly to Darby’s room; killing him in his sleep.  This case was investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, case agent Investigator Amy Burnette.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on June 28, 2019, Circuit Judge Brantley Clark, Jr., accepted Steven Hudson’s plea to Second Degree Murder and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and sentenced Hudson to Life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Evidence revealed that on August 17, 2018, Steven Hudson, an estranged boyfriend, shot and killed 42-year-old Ashley Adams Brooks Smith at Hudson’s residence in Lynn Haven, Florida.  After killing her, Hudson fled the scene and was later caught with the murder weapon in his truck.  Hudson entered an “open plea” to the court with no sentence agreement with the State.  Hudson could have been sentenced anywhere within the range of 25 years to Life under Florida’s 10-20-Life law.  Hudson asked the court for a sentence in the 35-year range, citing a history of mental health issues.  Assistant State Attorney Bob Sombathy argued for a life sentence based on the violent nature of the murder, Hudson’s significant criminal record, and the fact that Hudson had only been out of prison about 6 months before murdering Ms. Smith.

The case was investigated by the Lynn Haven Police Department, case agent Corporal Steve Enfinger, and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Bob Sombathy, Chief of Major Crimes.

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