Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Wednesday, August 3, 2017, Bay County Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark sentenced Albert Hayes, II, to a total of 90.59 years in prison and designated him a sexual offender.  Hayes had previously been convicted by a jury of six counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery.

At a trial held on July 6, 2017, Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Hawkins and Alyssa Yarbrough presented the testimony of four witnesses to establish that the Defendant met a fifteen year old, on six different occasions in Bay County, Florida to engage in sexual acts with her between January of 2016 and March of 2017.  Investigator Brent Patrick with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  The jury deliberated for a little over one hour before returning its verdict.

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 Tuesday, August 1, 2017, a Bay County Jury found Shawn Michael McDuffey, Jr., guilty as charged of Kidnapping and Robbery.  Assistant State Attorney Peter Overstreet presented evidence that on January 2, 2017, McDuffey, along with his co-defendants, Grant Jones, Cheyenne Bentley, and Brian Miley, drove from Marianna, Florida to Panama City to purchase Adderall pills from the victim.  During the encounter, the victim entered the car with McDuffey and his co-defendants.  The car sped off and the group began to beat the victim and go through his pockets, stealing his wallet, cell phone and Adderall pills.  The victim was badly beaten and dumped on the side of the road after being knocked unconscious.  The victim was able to run home and notify police.  Investigators with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded and investigated the case leading to the arrest of McDuffey, Miley, Bentley, and Jones.  He now faces mandatory life in prison as a prison releasee reoffender under Florida Law.  His sentencing will be August 23, 2017.

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

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces the following:

On July 28th, 2017, a six-member jury found William Earl Riley guilty as charged of Burglary of a Conveyance and Grand Theft.  On May 22nd, 2016, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office received a call about the burglary of a camper in the northern part of Bay County.  DNA evidence tied the Defendant directly to the scene of the crime.  Sentencing is scheduled for August 15th.

The State’s case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Devin Collier and Jacob Cook.

Press Release

On 7/12/2017, Stephen Ray Carson was convicted of Tampering with Evidence and Possession of Methamphetamine.  The State established that on December 21, 2016, Officer Oquendo from the Springfield Police Department performed a traffic stop on a vehicle that ran a stop sign at Bob Little Road and 11th Street.  During the stop, Officer Oquendo came into contact with the Defendant, who was a passenger in the vehicle.  The occupants were detained due to identification and driver’s license issues.  Officer Oquendo also noticed open containers of alcohol within the vehicle and began to write citations.  During the stop, the Defendant attempted to empty his pockets of pills while the officers were questioning the other occupants of the vehicle.  The Defendant, however, was caught on dash cam footage emptying his pockets and stomping on the pills.  Deputy Bentley with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office noticed the crushed pills on the ground and notified Oquendo.  The Defendant was then arrested and searched.  A search of Carson’s pockets revealed a small bag of methamphetamine.  A Bay County jury convicted the Defendant in just 4 minutes.

This case was tried by Assistant State Attorney Peter Overstreet and Assistant State Attorney Calie Rivera.  Circuit Judge Brantley Clark sentenced the Defendant to 18 Months in the Department of Corrections.

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 July 7, 2017, Circuit Judge Chris Patterson sentenced Joshua Brandyn Gaskey to two consecutive Life in Prison terms without the possibility of parole.   Just last week, a Holmes County jury found Gaskey guilty as charged of two counts of first degree murder, robbery with a firearm and armed burglary.   During the week long trial, Assistant State Attorneys Brandon Young and Larry Basford presented evidence that Gaskey killed Sheley Glenn Brooks and his wife, Jacqulyn Brooks in their home located in the Ponce De Leon community in order to obtain Mrs. Brooks’ prescription medication.  The State Attorney’s Office had sought the death penalty for the double homicide, but during the penalty phase the jury returned a verdict for life.  The case was investigated by the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department with the assistance of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford if additional information is required.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces the following:

On July 6, 2017, a six-member jury found Albert J. Hayes, II, guilty as charged on six counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery.  Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Hawkins and Alyssa Yarbrough presented the testimony of four witnesses to establish the Defendant met a fifteen year old, on six different occasions in Bay County, Florida to engage in sexual acts with her between January of 2016 and March of 2017.  Investigator Brent Patrick with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  The jury deliberated for a little over one hour before returning its verdict.  Judge Brantley Clark, Jr. scheduled sentencing for August 3, 2017 at 9:00 AM.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess releases the following information:
On June 30 2017, a Circuit Court jury in Marianna, Florida deliberated approximately an hour and a half before convicting David Ren Moore of Burglary with a Battery, a life felony, and Aggravated Battery, a second degree felony.  The jury also made the necessary findings under the 10/20/Life law that requires a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years on each crime because Moore carried a firearm during the commission of the crimes.  Assistant State Attorney Laura Wahlquist called 4 witnesses to the stand to prove that on the night of July 4, 2015, Moore and his accomplice, Derek Pittman, entered a residence, attempted to rob the occupant, and beat him extensively causing great bodily harm.  The case was investigated by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.  Judge Michael Miller scheduled a sentencing date for August 8, 2017.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess releases the following information:
On June 28, 2017, a Circuit Court jury in Marianna, Florida deliberated approximately 19 minutes before convicting Christopher Tyrone Pittman of Trafficking in Cocaine and Trafficking in Methamphetamine.  The jury also made the necessary findings as to the weight of the cocaine and methamphetamine that requires a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years on each crime.  Assistant State Attorney Laura Wahlquist called 10 witnesses to the stand to prove on the afternoon of December 9, 2015, Pittman purchased 3 kilos of cocaine (approximately 7.5 pounds) and one and a half kilos of methamphetamine (nearly 3.5 pounds).  The case was investigated by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, and the State Attorney’s Office.  Judge Wade Mercer scheduled a sentencing date for August 8, 2017.

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 Friday, June 23, 2017, Bay County Circuit Judge Hentz McClellan sentenced Christopher Minor to 160 months of imprisonment.  Minor had been found guilty by a jury of Armed Robbery with a Deadly Weapon on June 6, 2017.  Assistant State Attorneys Peter Overstreet and Cord Grimes presented the testimony of 4 witnesses to prove that on October 23, 2016 while at the Exxon gas station located on Jenks Avenue in Panama City, Minor robbed Everett Bronson of his bicycle.  During the course of the robbery Minor displayed a knife and attempted to cut and stab Mr. Bronson.  Mr. Bronson was able to resist Minor and fend him off before calling 911.  Patrolmen Wray and Creamer of the Panama City Police Department responded to the scene and were able to detain Minor who was attempting to flee in a taxi cab.  The jury deliberated less than 20 minutes before returning a guilty as charged verdict.

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 Wednesday, June 21, 2017, in Calhoun County, Circuit Judge Shonna Gay sentenced Wesley McHenry to 10 years in prison for Driving Under the Influence Manslaughter and 5 years in prison for Driving Under the Influence with Serious Bodily Injury, to run consecutive for a total of 15 years in prison.  McHenry had alcohol and marijuana in his system on August 22, 2015, when his car collided Mark and Candi Laramore’s vehicle.  McHenry was traveling 80-81 miles per hour when he ran the stop sign at the intersection of Highways 275 and 20.  Ms. Laramore was pronounced dead at the scene, and Mr. Laramore suffered serious injuries.  Calhoun County Chief Assistant State Attorney Shad Redmon prosecuted the case.

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