Press Release

The office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that 53 year old, Gary Lee Woodring was convicted of Grand Theft Auto on Wednesday 12/7/16.

Assistant State Attorney Christine Smallwood called three witnesses to testify that Woodring took the 2005 Ford SUV without the permission of the owner on July 21, 2016.  Later that night patrolman Joseph Alderman with the PCPD stopped Woodring for speeding and driving recklessly.  Woodring was arrested for DUI and Driving with a Suspended License.  A  subsequent investigation by Investigator Robbie Claytor of the BCSO led to the arrest of Woodring for stealing the SUV.

Woodring testified in his own defense and attempted to convince the jury he had merely borrowed the vehicle.  However, after deliberating for approximately 40 minutes the Circuit Court Jury returned a Guilty as Charged verdict.  Circuit Judge James Fensom immediately sentenced Woodring to 48 months in prison.

Please 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 Bay County Jury deliberated just over 30 minutes this afternoon(12/6/16) before returning a verdict of Guilty as Charged against 30 year old, Michael Justin Mcneil,  for three counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery and two counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation.

Assistant State Attorney Christa Diviney called eight witnesses to the stand to prove McNeil committed the crimes upon the victim when she was twelve and thirteen years old.  The crimes began in October of 2014, just one month after McNeil had been released from serving a prison sentence.  The case was investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office with the help of the Children’s Advocacy Center and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Circuit Judge James Fensom ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for December 22, 2016.  Prosecutor Diviney has filed notice with the court that the State of Florida will request McNeil be sentenced as a Prison Releasee Reoffender.  The defendant could be sentenced to a maximum of life in prison for committing these five crimes.

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 1, 2016, a jury in Marianna, Florida, found 52-year old Curtis James Jackson guilty as charged of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm.

Assistant State Attorney Laura Wahlquist presented the testimony of five witnesses to prove that Jackson shot the victim the night of December 20, 2015, at the Dreamland Bar located on Flat Road. The victim sustained an injury to his arm and was treated at Jackson Hospital and hospitalized for two days.  Wahlquist said the successful prosecution was the result of the investigative efforts of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and residents of the community who cooperated with law enforcement to help identify Jackson as the shooter.

Circuit Judge Shonna Gay scheduled a sentencing hearing for December 15, 2016. Since the jury found Jackson committed this crime with a firearm, he faces a minimum mandatory sentence under the 10-20-Life law.

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

Press Release

The office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that 51 year old Timothy Williams will be spending the next 40 years in prison.  Judge John Fishel accepted William’s plea to Kidnapping and Sexual Battery today in Gulf County and sentenced Williams to 40 years prison on each charge, as well as on his probation violation.

The charges stemmed from his actions on December 8, 2015, when Williams kidnapped and sexually battered a store clerk in Port St Joe, Florida. Williams had just completed serving a 10 year prison sentence for a prior sex offense and was out of prison for only 33 days before committing his latest crimes.

Assistant State Attorney Bob Sombathy praised the courage of the victim, as well as the hard work by the Gulf County Sheriffs Office.  “I’m pleased with the lengthy prison sentence ordered by Circuit Judge Fishel in this case.  Due to this defendant’s age, the forty year sentence will most likely amount to a life sentence for this defendant.  It was the only way to keep the community safe from a man like Timothy Williams.”

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

Press Release

The Office of the State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Thursday, November 17, 2016, a Washington Circuit jury convicted Calvin Lee Alexander, 23, of Bonifay of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon. Assistant State Attorney Shalla Jefcoat presented evidence that Alexander stabbed the victim in the abdomen during a verbal dispute on January 27, 2016.  The victim’s injuries were so severe that emergency surgery was required to repair a torn artery.  At the time of the incident, Alexander was on probation and being supervised by the Florida Department of Corrections for a previous stabbing. The case was investigated by Deputy Keith Mayo of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.  Judge Register has set a sentencing hearing for November 30, 2016.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Thursday, November 17, 2016, a Circuit Court jury in Bay County deliberated approximately 65 minutes before finding the defendant, Ricardo J. Mason, guilty of Battery.  Assistant State Attorneys Devin Collier and Kyle Rash called four witnesses during the trial to establish their case.  The witnesses testified that the defendant had that after being found wandering in a stranger’s yard.  When paramedics responded to medically clear the defendant prior to transporting him to the Bay County Jail Detox Unit, the defendant bit through a paramedic’s jacket leaving a serious bruise on his upper arm.  After the jury’s unanimous verdict, Circuit Judge James Fensom adjudged the defendant guilty and sentenced him to one year in the Bay County Jail.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, a Bay County Circuit Jury found Scott Thomas Hicks guilty of Aggravated Child Abuse, Neglect of a Child Causing Great Bodily Harm, Leaving a Child Unattended in a Motor Vehicle Causing Great Bodily Harm and Culpable Negligence Exposing Another to Injury.  The charges arose from the investigation initiated by the bailiffs at the Bay County Courthouse on September 16, 2015.  When Hicks was taken into custody on other charges, he advised the bailiffs that he had left a child in his vehicle unattended.  The bailiffs soon found a four year old boy in a vehicle in the parking lot.  The child was seriously dehydrated and had multiple bruises on his body, with an open wound to his head and severe injury to his groin.  Assistant State Attorney Christa Diviney prosecuted the case and presented evidence that the child suffered great bodily harm because of the continued willful torture and neglect. After the verdict, Judge James Fensom ordered the Defendant be held without bond and scheduled his sentencing hearing for December 2, 2016. Hicks faces a total of fifty-one years on these crimes if the Judge imposes the maximum sentence.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, a Gulf County jury deliberated approximately 1 hour before finding Twala Evete Tiller guilty of felony battery, a third degree felony.  Assistant State Attorney Gary Pack presented evidence that Tiller attacked the victim, Anna Marie Hood, on April 4, 2016, while she stood in line at the Dollar General Store in Wewahitchka.  The testimony at trial indicated Tiller kicked, bit and punched the victim resulting in great bodily harm. Circuit Judge John Fishel requested that a pre-sentence investigation report and a guideline sentence scoresheet be prepared to assist him in determining a proper sentence.  Tiller’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 6, 2016.

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

Press Release

The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that after having been found guilty of two counts of sexual battery by a jury of his peers on October 11, 2016, Segwayne Kirk Anthony Goldson was sentenced by Judge Michael Overstreet this afternoon.  Mr. Goldson was sentenced as a violent sexual offender as to the first of the two crimes of which he was convicted.  This was a first degree sexual battery with physical force likely to cause serious personal injury, and was remanded to the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections for a period of 50 years.  The 50 year sentence must be served day for day.  Goldson was also sentenced as a sexual offender on the second crime, this being second degree sexual battery, to an additional 15 years.  This shall be served consecutively for a total sentence of 65 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

Assistant State Attorney Barbara Beasley argued on behalf of the State for the sentence imposed, after reminding the court of the violent nature of the crimes committed against the victim.  The crimes occurred on Panama City Beach during the early hours of July 1, 2016, while the victim was walking home from work.

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

October 26, 2016

For Immediate Release

According to the State Attorney’s Office:

A Jackson County jury convicted Adrian Lamar Graham on Monday, October 24, 2016 of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.

Assistant State Attorney Tyler Land proved to jurors that Graham, 31, of 2933 Milton Avenue, Marianna battered a Jackson County Correctional Officer on August 24, 2015 while in protective custody at the Jackson County Jail.

Because he qualifies as a Habitual Felony Offender under Florida Law, Graham faces up to 10 years in prison when Circuit Judge, Shonna Gay, sentences him.  A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

Land was assisted in the trial by Assistant State Attorney Laura Wahlquist and State Attorney Investigator Dave Edmonson.