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.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on October 27, 2017, Assistant State Attorneys Devin Collier and Nichole Pieper presented evidence to a Bay County jury that 21 year old Landon Scott Allcox was in possession of more than 14 grams of Methamphetamine when he was stopped by Bay County Deputy Antonio Jones on March 31st of this year as he attempted to flee a home at 2719 East Eighth Plaza in Panama City.  The prosecution called four witnesses to establish that Allcox possessed the drugs.  Trafficking in Methamphetamine is a first degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.  Judge Michael Overstreet set a sentencing date of November 17th.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on October 25, 2017, a Bay County jury deliberated only 31 minutes before finding Kenneth Manhard guilty of DUI Manslaughter, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Death, and Driving while his License was Suspended.  Prosecutor Robert Sombathy, Chief of the Major Crimes Division, presented evidence that Manhard left a night club on Panama City Beach in his car during the early morning hours of April 17th in an intoxicated state and struck Jerry Jones as he was traveling east on a scooter across the Hathaway Bridge.  When Manhard arrived at another night club in Panama City, witnesses observed damage to his car and called the police.  The investigation conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol and the Panama City Police Department revealed that one or more witnesses observed Manhard in an intoxicated state prior to and immediately after the accident.  Judge Michael Overstreet will conduct a sentencing hearing on November 17th .

For additional information contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on October 17, 2017, Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson sentenced Leonard Parry, Jr., to 30 years in the Department of Corrections, followed by lifetime probation.  Parry was designated a Sexual Predator. Parry had previously been convicted by a jury of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation.  Assistant State Attorney Michelle Daffin established that on June 7, 2016 the defendant touched a five-year old child on the child’s genital area in a sexual manner.  The case was investigated by the Cottondale Police Department with assistance from the Child Protection Team.

If additional information is needed, please contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on September 28, 2017, a Bay County jury convicted Andrew Joseph Givens of Burglary with an Assault and/or Battery, Obstructing a 911 Call, False Imprisonment, and three counts of Sexual Battery by Threat of Force.  Assistant State Attorneys Brittany Forester and Devin Collier proved that the defendant held the victim hostage for three days.  During that time, the defendant repeatedly raped the victim while high on methamphetamine.  The defendant faces life in prison, and Circuit Judge Michael C. Overstreet has scheduled sentencing for November 13, 2017.

If additional information is needed, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.