Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess releases the following information:

On May 24, 2017, a Circuit Court jury in Chipley Florida deliberated approximately 3 hours before convicting Emmanuel Forrest Lockhart of Attempt to Commit First Degree Murder with a Firearm, Attempt to Commit Robbery with a Firearm and Burglary of a Structure with a Firearm.  The jury also made the necessary findings under the 10/20/Life law that requires a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years to life on each crime because Lockhart carried and discharged a firearm that caused great bodily harm during the commission of the crimes.  Assistant State Attorney Shalla Jefcoat called 20 witnesses to the stand to prove on the afternoon of July 10, 2016, Lockhart repeatedly shot Jody Rhoda as she left her place of business, the Colonial Restaurant.  The case was investigated by the Chipley Police Department and with the assistance of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Lockhart was arrested within an hour of committing the crime.  Judge Timothy Register scheduled a sentencing date for June 15, 2017.

Please contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at 850-819-6985 with any questions.

State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on May 1, 2017, Michelle Daffin returned to the office as the Chief Assistant State Attorney in Jackson County.  In addition to her 5 years as an Assistant State Attorney in Bay County, Ms. Daffin has been an Assistant United States Attorney prosecuting cases in federal court, as well as the Branch Chief of the Federal Defender’s Panama City Division.  We are glad to have Ms. Daffin on the team.  Welcome Back!

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that on Thursday, May 4, 2017, Judge Michael C. Overstreet conducted a sentencing hearing in the matter of the State of Florida vs. Orlando Thompson, who was convicted in April of this year for Second Degree Murder. Judge Overstreet considered the testimony from the defendant’s family and the defense attorney requesting him to impose a sentence below the guidelines. However, Assistant State Attorney Bob Sombathy presented testimony from the Halley family about the character of the victim and how this murder has affected their lives forever. Sombathy argued that “the defendant had committed murder and did not deserve leniency” and strongly recommended that the judge impose a sentence that would do justice in this case. Judge Overstreet reminded everyone that the purpose of the criminal justice system in Florida is to punish the offender and thereafter proceeded to impose a sentence of life in prison.  

Please contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at 850-819-6985 with any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on May 2, 2017, a six-member jury found Willie Moore guilty as charged of Fleeing to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer Siren and Lights Activated.  On January 22, 2016, Investigator Jacob McGowin with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office was working routine patrol in the area of Cherry Street and Highway 22A.  Investigator McGowin observed a car driven by the Defendant, Willie Moore, tailgating other vehicles on the road and driving over the posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour.  Investigator McGowin, in an attempt to stop the vehicle, activated his blue lights and siren, but the Defendant failed to stop.  It took the jury 6 minutes to convict the Defendant of Fleeing to Elude a Law Enforcement Siren and Lights Activated.  Judge Brantley Clark, Jr. sentenced the Defendant to 30 months in the Department of Corrections.  The State’s case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Alyssa Yarbrough and Jennifer Hawkins.

Please contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford at 850-819-6985 with any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Monday, May 1, 2017, after deliberating approximately thirty-five minutes, a Bay County jury returned a verdict of guilty as charged of Resisting Officer With Violence, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Paraphernalia against Jonathan Corey Stiles.  Assistant State Attorneys Brittany Forester and Peter Overstreet presented evidence that on October 25, 2016, Bay County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call of a suspicious person near the area of South Berthe Avenue and Lake Drive, and eventually came into contact with Stiles.  Deputies testified that Stiles was belligerent, and when prevented from fleeing the scene, Stiles tackled one deputy to the ground.  After Stiles was placed under arrest, deputies also located methamphetamine and syringes in his backpack.  The Defendant has several prior felonies convictions, including multiple burglaries and grand thefts.  Circuit Judge Hentz McClellan scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 16, 2017, where the State will seek a Habitual Felony Offender sentence.

Please contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford at 850-819-6985 with any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that on April 20, 2017, after a three day trial, during which the court had to conduct a Daubert/Frye hearing concerning the effects of repeated use of “wax”, a concentrated form of THC, a Bay County jury found Orlando Thompson guilty as charged of second degree murder.  Assistant State Attorney Bob Sombathy, Chief of the Major Crimes Division, called 10 witnesses to the stand to establish that Thompson killed Josh Halley during an argument about preparing gumbo while the two men were at work at Buddy’s Seafood Market in June of 2015.  During the trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that self defense was involved and that the defendant had a right to stand his ground.  However, ASA Sombathy presented evidence to contradict that defense including the defendant’s statements that he had never been so angry in his life and a video of the altercation depicting the defendant retrieving a sword from the restaurant and becoming the aggressor.  Sentencing is scheduled for May 4, and the defendant faces a potential sentence of life in prison.

ASA Sombathy was assisted at trial by ASA Barbie Beasley, Investigator Shannon Mitchell, Legal Assistant Stephanie Glidden and Victim Advocate Lisa Lea Humpich.

Please contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at 850-819-6985 with any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that on March 31, 2017, Governor Rick Scott appointed Jackson County Chief Assistant State Attorney Ana Maria Garcia as the newest Circuit Judge for the 14th Judicial Circuit.  Judge Garcia replaces longtime Circuit Judge Bill Wright, who was based in Marianna and who recently retired.  Congratulations, Judge Garcia!

Please contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at 850-819-6985 with any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that on March 28, 2017, a Washington County jury found Daryl Wayne Mollett guilty as charged of Attempted Felony Murder with a Weapon and Armed Carjacking.

Assistant State Attorneys Shalla Phelps Jefcoat and Laura Wahlquist presented evidence that Mollett, while on the run from authorities who were attempting to arrest him on an outstanding warrant, came upon the victim as she was returning from a run in the Sunnyhills subdivision, hit her in the head with a brick, and stole her vehicle.  The victim sustained serious, life-threatening injuries.  The case was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.  Sentencing is set for April 17, 2017, where Mollett faces a potential sentence of life imprisonment.  The State will seek a Habitual Felony Offender and/or Prison Releasee Reoffender sentence.

Please contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at 850-819-6985 with any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that on Monday March 27, 2017, , a circuit court jury in Bay County deliberated approximately thirty-five minutes before returning a verdict of Guilty as Charged for Possession with the Intent to Sale Oxycodone against Tito Young.  Prosecutors Devin Collier and Brittany Forester presented evidence that Young, who is forty-four years old, was arrested by D.E.A.  Agents on April 8, 2016 on Panama City Beach in possession of 50 Oxycodone tablets.  During an interview with the agents, Young admitted to bringing the drugs from Pahokee, Florida to distribute to various individuals in Bay County.  The defendant has several prior felony convictions for various drug convictions throughout the state.  Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 13, 2017.

Please contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at 850-819-6985 with any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that on Tuesday March 28, 2017, Circuit Judge Shonna Young Gay sentenced Ricky Leon Wynn, Jr. to serve twenty five years in the Florida Department of Corrections after a jury convicted Wynn last month of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm.  The sentence imposed by Judge Gay was pursuant to Florida’s 10/20/Life Statute.  Wynn will be required to serve every day of the twenty-five year sentence imposed, because that is the minimum mandatory sentence required by law.

Assistant State Attorneys, Ana Maria Garcia & Tyler Land, proved to jurors that Wynn, 31, of Marianna, Florida battered a victim on May 14, 2016 while at Club Secrets in Marianna.   After an argument between Wynn and the victim, Wynn later armed himself with a firearm and clubbed the victim over the head with the firearm, which caused it to discharge injuring another club patron.  The club patron that was shot was taken to Jackson Hospital and later transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital due to the seriousness of the injuries.  The case was investigated by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

Please contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at 850-819-6985 with any questions.