Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on January 16, 2018, Antwain Chapman was found guilty as charged by a Bay County jury of Burglary of a Dwelling.

Evidence presented at trial demonstrated that the victim, who was the Defendant’s former brother-in-law, saw the Defendant on his way to work, and knowing that he had just gotten out of prison, attempted to help the Defendant by providing him clothing, money, and a place to stay for the night. However, after the victim left for work, the Defendant returned to his residence, kicked in the door, and stole some items out of the victim’s home. Surveillance video captured the Defendant walking away from the victim’s residence with a pillowcase stuffed with the victim’s belongings. The jury deliberated for 48 minutes before returning a verdict of guilty as charged.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Peter Overstreet and was investigated by the Panama City Police Department. Circuit Judge Brantley Clark, Jr., will sentence the Defendant on February 26, 2019. The Defendant faces up to 30 years of imprisonment as a habitual felony offender, and faces a 15-year minimum mandatory sentence as a prison releasee reoffender. He faces an additional 15 years for a violation of probation due to being on probation at the time of the offense.

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

Please see the following job postings.  Applications are not accepted through the PeopleFirst electronic system.  Employment Application and Authorization to Release Information are available on our website at http://sa14.fl.gov/careers-opportunities/.  These should be emailed, along with resume and cover letter, to SA_businessoffice@sa14.fl.gov.

Experienced Attorney, Marianna Office:

https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/MARIANNA-STATE-ATTORNEY'S-OFFICE%2C-14TH-CIRCUIT-ASSISTANT-STATE-ATTORNEY-21003637-FL-32446/529548900/

Entry-Level Attorney, Panama City Office:

https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/PANAMA-CITY-STATE-ATTORNEY'S-OFFICE%2C-14TH-CIRCUIT-ASSISTANT-STATE-ATTORNEY-UNDER-MILLION-21000132-FL-32402/529536300/

Legal Assistant/Secretary I, Panama City Office:

https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/PANAMA-CITY-STATE-ATTORNEY'S-OFFICE%2C-14TH-CIRCUIT-LEGAL-ASSISTANTSECRETARY-I-21011242-FL-32402/529817600/

Press Release

Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford announced the following information:

On Thursday, January 10, 2019, the Construction Fraud Task Force conducted another sting operation in Marianna and arrested three individuals when they arrived at a damaged home and gave the homeowner estimates to replace the roof.  Contracting without a License is a third degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.  The members of the Construction Fraud Task Force participating in today’s operation included officers from the State Attorney’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and the Bureau of Insurance Fraud.  The Task Force was formed in November to deter unlicensed contractors from committing fraud and grand theft on unsuspecting homeowners.  Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford said, “We know from past recovery efforts, that unlicensed contractors either took homeowners’ money and ran or took their money and provided substandard work that would not pass building inspections.  The goal of our Task Force is to protect our neighbors from being victimized again.”  To date, over thirty individuals have been arrested for Contracting without a License in Bay, Gulf, and Jackson Counties.  If you have been the victim of contractor fraud, contact the State Attorney’s office at 850-872-4473 or your local Sheriff’s Office.

If you have any questions or need additional information, contact our office at 850-872-4473.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on January 8, 2019, a six-member Bay County jury found Todd Sparaga guilty as charged of eleven counts of Capital Sexual Battery on a Child Under 12 Years of Age, five counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation, and one count of Lewd and Lascivious Battery.

Evidence presented at trial proved that between March of 2013 and January of 2018, Sparaga sexually molested two relatives on multiple occasions while at the family home.  One victim approached her school counselor on or around January 23, 2018, which prompted the investigation into the sexual abuse allegations.  Investigator Chris Williams with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office interviewed Sparaga after meeting with both victims.  Sparaga confessed to sexually abusing the victims after being read his Miranda rights.

The jury deliberated for fifteen minutes before returning a verdict of guilty as charged on all counts.  Sparaga faces up to 16 consecutive life sentences plus 15 years in the Department of Corrections.  Circuit Judge Brantley Clark, Jr., will sentence Sparaga on January 25, 2019.  Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Hawkins and Cord Grimes prosecuted the case with the help of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, and the victims.

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

Gregory George Joins the State Attorney’s Office

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on January 7, 2019, Gregory George joined our Bay County office as an Assistant State Attorney in the Misdemeanor Division.  Mr. George attended Florida A&M University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a concentration in Economics and Urban Studies.  He then obtained a Juris Doctorate from Florida A&M University School of Law.  Mr. George worked as a Summer Associate at Seibane Law, P.A., as a legal intern at the Office of the General Counsel for the Orange County Public Schools, as a legal intern for Congressman Trey Gowdy, and as a research associate at Florida A&M University College of Law.  After graduating law school, Mr. George worked at the local Navy Base in the Office of Civilian Human Resources.  We welcome Mr. George to the team!

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

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on November 9th, 2018, the State Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, created a Construction Fraud Task Force.  It consists of a number of law enforcement agencies, building inspectors, and state agencies including building officials from Bay County, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Panama City Police Department, the Lynn Haven Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security.

The purpose of the Construction Fraud Task Force is to protect the citizens of the 14th Circuit from the abuse of unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors from fraud, grand theft, and sub-standard construction.  Our primary objective is to deter would-be violators.
The Construction Fraud Task Force has conducted undercover sting operations in Bay County on 5 separate dates and arrested 32 defendants for contracting without a Florida license.  Those arrests were made in Lynn Haven and Panama City when individuals who represented themselves as roofing contractors gave estimates to undercover officers for the cost to roof a home damaged by Hurricane Michael.  Most of the defendants were from Texas or Louisiana and only one was from Bay County.

Additionally, an undercover sting operation was conducted in Gulf County with the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office and Port St. Joe Police Department which resulted in the arrest of 2 defendants representing themselves as licensed roofing contractors.
The Construction Fraud Task Force, as part of its mission to prevent citizens from being “victimized” twice by Hurricane Michael, has attempted to educate the public about construction fraud by publicizing the sting operations, speaking to civic groups, posting signs stating that unlicensed contracting is a felony during a state of emergency, and distributing a brochure which highlights warning signs for homeowners when dealing with contractors.

Please review the Construction Fraud Task Force Brochure at the link below and if you have any questions please contact our office at (850) 872-4473.

Construction Fraud Task Force Brochure

Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford announced the following:

On Wednesday, December 19th, two people were arrested in Gulf County for Contracting without a License.  The arrests stemmed from an investigation conducted by the Construction Fraud Task Force consisting of officers from the State Attorney’s Office, the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office, the Port St. Joe Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Department of Financial Services and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.  The individuals were arrested when they arrived separately at a home and represented themselves as roofing contractors who were ready, willing and able to roof homes damaged during Hurricane Michael. Contracting without a License During a State of Emergency is a third degree felony punishable by a maximum of 5 years in prison and a $5000 fine.  The Construction Fraud Task Force was formed to deter unlicensed contractors from taking advantage of unsuspecting homeowners.  During past recovery efforts, numerous unlicensed contractors either took homeowners’ money and ran or took the money and provided substandard work that would not pass building inspections.  The goal of the task force is to prevent our citizens from being victimized twice.  If you have been the victim of contractor fraud, contact the State Attorney’s Office at 850-872-4473 or your local Sheriff’s Office.

If you have any questions or need additional information, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.

We are now hiring entry-level attorneys.  Florida Bar license is required.  Copy and paste the link below into your browser to view our job posting:

https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/PANAMA-CITY-ASSISTANT-STATE-ATTORNEY'S-OFFICE%2C-14TH-CIRCUIT-ASSISTANT-STATE-ATTORNEY-21013798-FL-32402/521611300/

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on November 27, 2018, Spencer Lamont Trawick, 44, of Marianna, Florida, was found guilty as charged by a Washington County jury of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine).  The State proved that in February of this year, Trawick was in possession of methamphetamine, which he had concealed in the gas flap of his vehicle which was stopped on the side of Corbin Road in Washington County.  Trawick has multiple prior convictions for drug offenses and was on probation for a similar charge in Jackson County at the time of his arrest.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney John Maceluch.  The Washington County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Following the verdict, acting Circuit Judge Colby Peel sentenced the defendant to 18 months in the Florida Department of Corrections.

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

Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford and Sheriff Tommy Ford Announce the Formation of a Construction Fraud Task Force

This morning, Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford and Sheriff Tommy Ford announced the formation of a Construction Fraud Task Force.  Chief ASA Basford stated that we appreciate all of the people who have come to our community to help us survive, recover, and rebuild our community; specifically, the law enforcement officers, linemen, tree surgeons, and construction workers.  However, we remember what happened in the aftermath of Hurricanes Andrew and Opal: many of our citizens were victimized again by people who came here to help only themselves; specifically, unlicensed contractors and roofers that took advantage of our neighbors desperate to get their homes fixed.

Determined not to let this happen again, Chief ASA Basford and Sheriff Ford met and decided to form a Construction Fraud Task Force.  A team of prosecutors, law enforcement officers, local building inspectors, and agents from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.  The mission of the task force is simple:

1. To deter unlicensed and unethical contractors and repairmen from committing fraud, grand theft, and substandard construction, and
2. To arrest and aggressively prosecute those people who violate the law.

Contracting without a license during a state of emergency is a third-degree felony, which is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Chief ASA Basford had a clear message for unlicensed contractors: If you’re not licensed, either get licensed, or get out of our town.  We will not permit you to victimize our citizens, friends, and neighbors again.  If you violate the law, you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted, and you will go to jail.