Press Release from the Office of Glenn Hess, State Attorney

The State Attorney’s Office has implemented a Juvenile Sexting Diversion Program that began on February 1, 2017. This program applies to any child under the age of 18 who sends a sexually explicit photograph to another minor.

For a first offense, pursuant to Florida Statute 847.0141, the child or his parent or legal guardian will be required to pay $65 to the Clerk of Court or the child must perform 8 hours of community service at any non-profit organization.  Failure to complete one of the sanctions within 30 days will require a court appearance before a Circuit Judge in Juvenile Court on a court date provided by the law enforcement officer on the citation.  If a child receives a second offense, it will be classified as a first degree misdemeanor and he/she will be prosecuted in Juvenile Court.  A third or subsequent offense will be a third degree felony that will also be prosecuted in Juvenile Court.

This program is the result of a cooperative effort between the various law enforcement agencies, the Clerk of Court, and the State Attorney’s Office to teach minors about the dangers of sending out such explicit photographs to others,without punishing them criminally for a first offense.  However, if the photograph in question is classified as child pornography, the child could be prosecuted for offenses listed under Florida Statute 847.002 and 847.0137.

For any questions concerning this program, contact Assistant State Attorney Susan Rodger at (850) 872-4473, extension 1328.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that on Wednesday, February 1, 2017, State Attorney Hess was sworn in for his third term.  County Judge Joe Grammer administered the oath of office, while State Attorney Hess’s wife Maureen, son Scott, and many of his Assistant State Attorneys and staff looked on.  State Attorney Hess looks forward to serving the citizens of the 14th Judicial Circuit for another four years.

Contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at (850) 819-6985 for any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that on Tuesday, January 31, 2017,  Circuit Judge Shonna Gay conducted a sentencing hearing in Jackson County, and found Adrian Lamar Graham, 31 years of age, of Marianna, Florida to be a Habitual Felony Offender.   Judge Gay then ordered that Graham be sentenced to the statutory maximum of 10 years in prison.  Graham was tried and convicted in October of 2016 for committing a battery on a Correctional Officer while in the Jackson County Jail.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Tyler Land and Laura Wahlquist.

Contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at (850) 819-6985 for any questions.

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced:

On January 20, 2017,  State Attorney Investigator Dave Edmondson presented retiring Circuit Judge William Wright with a plaque in recognition of over thirty-five years of distinguished public service at a luncheon sponsored by the local law enforcement agencies.  Judge Wright began his legal career as a prosecutor in 1979.  In 1983, he was appointed Chief Assistant State Attorney over the Jackson County office.  While working for the State Attorney’s Office, Judge Wright also taught several courses to the the police and corrections cadets at the law enforcement academy at Chipola College.  He was elected Circuit Judge in 1996 and under his direction instituted the Drug Court Program in Jackson County.  After the plaque was presented several citizens took the opportunity to remind those in attendance of Judge Wright’s dedication to the community and to the justice system.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that on Friday, January 20th, 2017 a Bay County Circuit Jury deliberated approximately one hour and found Ronald Eugene Anderson guilty as charged for selling crack cocaine in the front yard of a residence on Allen Avenue in Panama City.  Assistant State Attorneys Jacob Cook and Barbara Beasley presented the testimony of four witnesses to establish Anderson sold the cocaine to an undercover officer with the Panama City Police Department on May 26th, 2016.  Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet scheduled a sentencing date for February 6th.  Selling cocaine is a second degree felony punishable by up to fifteen years in prison.

Contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at (850) 819-6985 for any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 in Bay County, Circuit Judge Hentz McClellan sentenced Michael Bransford to seven years in prison followed by five years of probation for his role in defrauding Regions Bank out of over $21,000 last year. After serving his prison sentence, Bransford will be required to make restitution to the bank while he is on probation.  In January a Bay County Jury found Bransford Guilty as Charged of Grand Theft, a second degree felony.

Contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at (850) 819-6985 for any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 a Circuit Court Jury in Port St. Joe deliberated approximately thirty minutes before returning a verdict of Guilty as Charged against Ezekial Register III a/k/a as “Trey”.  The charge stemmed from an investigation conducted by the Port St. Joe Police Department in response to complaints of drug activity in neighborhoods around some of the local churches.  Assistant State Attorney Gary Pack proved that Register sold $40 worth of crack cocaine within 1000 feet of the Bethel A.M.E. Church in Port St. Joe on April 26, 2016.  Judge Fishel scheduled a sentencing date in February for Register who faces a maximum of thirty years in prison.

Contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at (850) 819-6985 for any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that a Bay County jury deliberated just under 30 minutes on January 3, 2017, before finding 42 year old Michael Joseph Bransford Guilty as Charged of Grand Theft Over $20,000.

Assistant State Attorney Brittany Forester called three witnesses to testify that Bransford withdrew nearly $21,000 from a Bay County Regions Bank before bank officials discovered the check was fraudulent. Although originally claiming that the check was an IRA Rollover from a previous employer, Bransford later told bank personnel that he had been scammed by Nigerians.  At trial, the Defendant told a third version and testified he had been “catfished” by a girlfriend.  The case was investigated by Investigator Paul Vecker with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.  Circuit Judge Hentz McClellan scheduled a sentencing hearing for January 19, 2017.  The Defendant faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

If you have any questions, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford at (850)819-6985.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that on Thursday, December 15, 2016 in Jackson County, Judge Shonna Young Gay sentenced Curtis James Jackson to 25 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

Jackson was previously found guilty as charged of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm by a Jackson County jury on December 1, 2016.  Assistant State Attorney Laura Wahlquist charged Jackson under Florida’s 10-20-Life law.  During trial, evidence was presented that while at the Dreamland Bar on December 20, 2015, Curtis Jackson was in actual possession of a firearm and did discharge that firearm causing great bodily harm to the victim.  In accordance with those facts and Florida’s 10-20-Life law, Judge Gay imposed the minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in the Department of Corrections during Thursday’s sentencing.

Contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at (850) 819-6985 for any questions.

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that a Circuit Court Jury in Calhoun County took only fifteen minutes on Tuesday 12/13/16, to decide that 23 year old, Mark Dunivan was a Sexually Violent Predator under the State’s Jimmy Ryce Act. This Florida law allows civil commitment of the most serious sex offenders after they have completed their prison sentence. During the two day trial, Special Assistant Assistant State Attorney Zach Taylor presented evidence that Dunivan had a history of sex offenses upon children in Jackson and Calhoun Counties and that he was diagnosed with a pedophilic disorder that made him likely to engage in future sexually violent offenses. After the jury’s verdict, Circuit Judge Shonna Gay ordered Dunivan to be transported to the Florida Civil Commitment Center in Arcadia, Florida where he will remain indefinitely.

Please contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford at (850) 819-6985 for any questions.