A man who pled guilty to Trafficking in Methamphetamine (more than 28 grams) the morning of his trial was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Under Florida’s Minimum-Mandatory Drug Sentencing laws, Marlon Ray Cloud, 61, of Callaway, was facing at least a 7-year prison sentence. He was arrested by Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators Nov. 5, 2021.

Prosecutors Dustin Miller and Nicole Reed picked a jury Dec. 12 to hear the case Dec. 16 before Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson. But the morning of the trial, the defendant entered an “open plea” of guilty to the charges. An “open plea” means the judge will decide the sentence with no agreement in place.

At sentencing, Miller said Cloud was arrested after Sheriff’s Office investigators conducting an investigation knocked on the door of a hotel room he was in. When an occupant opened the door, a meth pipe was in plain sight.

One occupant had about 21 grams of methamphetamine in his pocket, which Miller explained came from the defendant. BCSO case agent Erin Williams asked the defendant if there was more methamphetamine in the room, and he pointed to a nightstand next to the bed where he was laying. Investigators found 34.3 grams of methamphetamine there.

Miller argued that the defendant’s actions and record showed that his criminal behavior had escalated. He asked for a 10-year sentence.

The defendant told Judge Stephenson, “I’m sorry it took me so long to realize that drugs destroy lives,” and that he was sorry he had “wasted” the court and SAO’s time by waiting to the last minute to enter a plea.

“I’m pretty glad you came to that realization,” Judge Stephenson told the defendant, “although it was after a jury was already selected.”

Stephenson, citing both the need for the defendant to be punished and his cooperative behavior and remorse, then gave him a 10-year sentence.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Guilty verdicts were returned this week against a repeat felon who had back-to-back trials on drug and fleeing law enforcement charges.

Adrian James Wood, 45, of Panama City, was found guilty Tuesday of felony Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer (Siren and Lights Activated) and Driving with a Suspended License from an April 24 arrest. Wednesday he was found guilty of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Paraphernalia from a March 23 arrest. He testified in his own defense in both trials.

Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark presided over both cases. Prosecutor Joshua James presented the Possession of Methamphetamine case. Judge Clark sentenced the defendant to the maximum of 5 years in prison.

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Sentencing on the Fleeing and Attempting to Elude conviction was set for Jan. 18 because Prosecutor Jennifer Lieb is seeking to have the defendant designated as a Habitual Felony Offender, based on his 13 previous felony convictions. If that status is granted, the defendant’s potential sentence would be enhanced from a maximum of 5 years to up to 10 years in prison.

Court records show that the defendant has 3 previous convictions for Resisting an Officer with Violence and Aggravated Battery on an Officer, 2 convictions for Battery on an Officer and Possession of a Controlled Substance, and 1 conviction each for Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, Aggravated Battery on a Pregnant Person and Felony Criminal Mischief.

Department of Corrections records indicate the defendant has served four previous prison terms.

“It is unusual for one defendant to have two trials in one week, but he invoked his right to a speedy trial and that is what we gave him,” said Lieb, whose jury returned a verdict in about 20 minutes. “A speedy trial brought speedy justice in this case.”

James, whose jury took about an hour to reach a guilty verdict, noted that the defendant’s two trials this week were for offenses committed within 32 days of each other earlier this year. They also were committed less than two years after he was released from prison in July, 2020.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for its work on both arrests as well as prosecutors for their handling and quick resolution to the cases.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454 or call 850-381-7454.

A drug trafficker with felony convictions stretching back two decades was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined $100,000 Thursday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Willie Kacheno Cleveland, 42, was convicted Oct. 7 of Trafficking in Methamphetamine (more than 28 grams) and Possession of Cocaine. Prosecutor Jacob Cook successfully sought to have Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark designate and sentence the defendant as a Habitual Felony Offender.

Judge Clark sentenced the defendant to 20 years in prison on the trafficking charge, with a minimum-mandatory 7 years and a $100,000 fine. The defendant was given 5 years on the second charge, to be served concurrently with the first sentence.

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While out on bond on these charges, the defendant was arrested on additional drug and firearm charges.

“It’s a great feeling when everyone works together to get a major drug trafficker off the streets,” Prosecutor Jacob Cook said. “The Panama City Police Department and Case Agent Austin Brock put together a good case that helped lead to a guilty verdict.”

Cook and co-prosecutor Josh James presented witnesses and evidence showing that Panama City police served a search warrant on a 10^th Street home on May 8, 2020, and as a result found over 150 grams of methamphetamine, as well as cocaine.

The evidence showed that the defendant attempted to flee when police arrived but was apprehended after a short foot pursuit. Police ultimately recovered 383 multi-colored pills containing methamphetamine packaged in plastic baggies. They also discovered numerous small baggies containing cocaine.

Basford thanked Panama City police for both their proactive efforts and testimony.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

 

A 6-person jury returned guilty verdicts Thursday against a man charged with rummaging through a vehicle on the Beach and claiming it belonged to a friend, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

A jury took about 20 minutes to find Bobby Jack Smith, 52, guilty of Burglary, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, and Resisting an Officer without Violence. Circuit Court Judge Timothy Register set sentencing for Dec. 12.

 

 

 

 

Prosecutor Jae Hee Kim called five witnesses, including Panama City Beach Police Officers Wesley Miller, Sidnie Gulley and Sgt. James Dinse. Miller recorded his encounter with the defendant via his body cam.

The testimony and witnesses proved that the defendant was on Panama City Beach May 4 and witnesses saw him rummaging through a vehicle parked at a condominium. The defendant looked through the Jeep’s middle console, glove box and back seat intending to commit a theft but was spotted and walked away.

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Panama City Beach police responded to the call and found the defendant nearby. Both his encounter with police and his attempt to steal from the Jeep were captured on video.

Kim noted that while burglaries are commonly associated with someone “breaking” into a home or vehicle, the actual crime of burglary occurs when someone enters another person’s structure, home or vehicle with the intent to commit a theft. In this case, while the Jeep did not have a top, the burglary was committed when the defendant reached into the vehicle and began rummaging through it.

“Everybody has the right to be free of others meddling with their property whether it be a home or a vehicle or other structures,” Kim said. “The professionalism of the officers in this case, and Officer Miller’s testimony, gave us confidence in this case and that it would be successfully resolved.”

Basford thanked the Panama City Beach Police Department for its quick response to the call for help that day and its handling of the situation, as well as their testimony at trial and the citizens who spotted the burglary in progress and called police.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

One of three men convicted of shooting and killing Edward Ross in a 2019 attempted robbery was sentenced to 35 years in prison Thursday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Joshua Emmanuel Campbell, 23, of Panama City Beach, pled no contest in November, 2020, to Second-degree Murder with a Firearm and Home Invasion Robbery as part of a plea that required him to testify truthfully against his co-defendants. Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark sentenced him to 35 years, with the first 25 years being minimum-mandatory. Clark also ordered that the defendant not be held at the same facility as the co-defendants against whom he testified.

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The defendant was one of three shooters in the case who rushed into the victim’s home intending to rob Ross. Instead, all three fired at and struck Ross while his father stood only feet away watching in shock. Kenneth Ross testified at several trials about seeing his son shot to death in front of him, and he spoke again at Campbell’s sentencing.

“I was promised at the very start of the investigation that his murder would be solved and there would be justice for Ed,” Mr. Ross said, directing his words to the defendant across the courtroom. “That promise was fulfilled and here you sit, convicted of his murder. The world is a little safer now that another bad actor is off the streets.”

Testimony from Campbell and others during the co-defendant’s trials showed the men planned to drive to the victim’s house and rob him, but after they went inside it quickly turned deadly as the three co-defendants fired more than 12 shots combined at the victim.

The first defendant through the door, Andre Devon Bivins, was found guilty of Felony First Degree Murder and Attempted Robbery with a Firearm and is serving a Life-without-parole prison sentence. The third defendant in the house, Abel Ortiz, was found guilty of the same charges and is serving two Life sentences. Because he was 17 when the crime occurred, Ortiz’ sentence will be reviewed in 25 years.

For additional information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

A Panama City man was given the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison late Tuesday after a 6-person jury found him guilty of drug trafficking and possession, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

The jury deliberated less than an hour before finding James Marcus Wakefield, 42, guilty as charged of Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession of Heroin. Circuit Court Judge Timothy Register then moved to sentencing.

 

 

Lead Prosecutor Frank Sullivan noted that the defendant had 33 previous felony convictions.

Register said he heard the trial testimony and saw the evidence, including the baggies holding more than 50 grams of Methamphetamine.

“In addition to that, I have to consider the criminal history, which does show quite a history of burglaries and grand thefts and tampering and so on,” Register said.

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Register said that “as a result” of those factors, he was sentencing the defendant to the maximum – 30 years in prison that include a mandatory-minimum 7 years. The defendant received 5 years on the Heroin Possession conviction, to run concurrent with the first sentence.

Sullivan and Prosecutor Jae Hee Kim presented four witnesses – the three Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators and deputies who handled the case and an expert from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Prosecutors proved through the evidence and witnesses, including lengthy testimony from BCSO Sgt. Steve Cook, that the defendant was in possession of the Methamphetamine and Heroin on Sept. 21, 2020, when his truck broke down on U.S. 231.

Cook testified that earlier in the day another man under surveillance as part of a narcotics investigation was found in possession of a smaller amount of Methamphetamine after a traffic stop. That man was detained, and while being questioned agreed to cooperate, identifying Wakefield as a large supplier.

Later that day the defendant called the witness, asking him to bring a tool that would unlock the tires on his disabled truck, which was just south of State 20 on U.S. 231.

The witness delivered the tool and confirmed the defendant was in possession of a large quantity of Methamphetamine, Cook testified. Cook, with other deputies close behind, moved in.

Cook testified that when he exited his vehicle and identified himself as a law enforcement officer, the defendant turned around and began to walk away, reaching into the front of his pants and throwing down a large baggie that contained multiple smaller baggies of Methamphetamine and one of Heroin.

The defense alleged the cooperating witness planted the drugs himself under the direction of a “crooked” cop, but the State and ultimately the jury discounted that claim.

Sullivan pointed out to jurors that the defense’s version of events and key witness testimony changed multiple times and simply did not make sense.

“He had to match his testimony to the evidence,” Sullivan said of the witness’ evolving version of events. “Does his testimony agree with the other evidence in this case? Pictures don’t lie. Evidence doesn’t lie.”

Basford said the successful prosecution was indicative of a well-investigated case by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. He noted it is another example of a pro-active case where an arrest was made and drugs seized before they could reach the streets.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

CALHOUN COUNTY – A man facing Sexual Battery charges involving a minor he impregnated was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday after he pled guilty the morning of his scheduled trial, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Jesse Alday, 34, was set for trial Monday but instead pled guilty to two counts of Sexual Battery on a Child (12 years of age or older but less than 18), and one count of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation as part of a plea agreement.

Circuit Court Judge Brandon Young accepted the plea and sentenced the defendant to 25 years in prison on the first two charges, and 15 years on the third charge, with all three sentences running concurrently (at the same time).

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Calhoun County Chief Prosecutor William Wright was prepared to present witnesses and evidence, including investigators from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, proving the defendant provided the minor with intoxicants and ultimately caused her to become pregnant.

As part of the plea, the defendant was designated as a Sexual Predator. Under the Florida Sexual Predators Act, if the defendant serves his sentence and is released, he must register with the Sheriff’s Office and supply his address and any electronic mail addresses or internet identifiers. He also must report any vehicles he owns, cell phone numbers, employment status, and register at the Driver’s License Office.

Law enforcement agencies must notify every licensed school and the public within a 1-mile radius of the defendant’s home by supplying his name, a picture, and the nature of his offense. Sexual Predator information, such as areas where they live and information about your neighborhood, is available at https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender.

Basford thanked the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office for its work on a difficult case, as well as the GCCAC, which interviews juveniles victims of sexual assaults.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

A Panama City man was given three Life sentences Tuesday after a jury found him guilty of killing one person and robbing two others in 2019, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

The jury deliberated less than two hours before finding Lagregory Grigges, 25, guilty of Felony First Degree Murder with a Firearm, and two counts of Robbery with a Firearm in the Dec. 7, 2019 shooting death of Eric Lynn Thomas. The defendant was also convicted of robbing two people in the home.

 

 

 

Prosecutor Peter Overstreet asked Circuit Judge Shonna Young Gay for the maximum sentence under Florida’s 10-20-Life Statute – 3 Life sentences to be served consecutively. Gay heard testimony from both the defendant’s and victim’s families before announcing her sentence – the maximum.

“That was my uncle and when he was killed, that was the last of my heart and soul,” the victim’s niece told the judge. “I do forgive (the defendant) … but I don’t feel sorry for him and I want to see justice served because I will never, ever see my uncle again.”

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Overstreet and co-prosecutor Jacob Cook presented evidence and witnesses – including several Panama City Police Department detectives and the co-defendant – proving that Grigges was the person who planned the robbery and fired 8 shots at the victim during a struggle in the living room.

Testimony showed Grigges and co-defendant Willie Lewis Whitsett, Jr. went to the victim’s home on East 7^th Court intending to rob him of a safe they believed was in the home. The two burst into the home, armed, and demanded money from the victim and two people who were visiting. A woman was robbed of a small purse and another man of his wallet, but the victim ended up in a struggle with the defendants after saying there was no money.

The victim was pistol-whipped by the co-defendant and then, as he held onto the defendant’s leg from the floor, the defendant shot him multiple times in the back and both defendants fled.

Grigges testified on his own behalf, but under cross-examination by Overstreet repeatedly contradicted himself while claiming he was simply giving a friend a ride that day, didn’t go into the home and didn’t shoot anyone. He did, though, admit to Overstreet that he lied multiple times to police in an earlier statement after his initial arrest.

“If you were willing to lie to the police about all of this back then, what would stop you from lying here today?” Overstreet asked the defendant.

“What would I lie for?” the defendant replied.

“I don’t know,” Overstreet said, “You’re on trial for Felony First Degree Murder and two robberies. That’d be a pretty good reason to lie, wouldn’t it?”

“Yeah,” the defendant said.

The co-defendant has pled guilty to Second Degree Murder and Robbery with a Firearm, both punishable by up to Life in prison. He has not yet been sentenced.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

CHIPLEY  – A Washington County jury Wednesday listened to a woman describe being shot by her husband, then took about an hour to find him guilty of Attempted Second Degree Murder, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Dennis Alan Berrigan, 71, of Vernon, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by Chief Circuit Court Judge Christopher Patterson. Under Florida’s 10-20-Life law, the crime was elevated to a first-degree felony and the first 10 years of his sentence are minimum-mandatory.

Washington County Chief Prosecutor Megan Ford called three witnesses for her case – the victim, and Sgt. Duran Harrison and Crime Scene Analyst Gene Wills of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Ford told jurors during her closing argument that the evidence clearly showed the Oct. 11, 2021 shooting, which followed an argument over the defendant sending money to women he met online, was intentional. Ford pointed out the defendant admitted to the shooting during a 911 call, the victim testified he was the one who shot her, it happened with his gun, and that he hid the gun outside afterward.

“The question isn’t who shot (the victim), the question is why the gun was shot?” Ford said. “And what was proven today is why he did it. And that’s because he was mad at the victim, he was mad she was going to call Social Security on him and he was going to take care of that.”

The victim testified that the defendant had been spending money on women he met online.

“It upset me, him sending money to women he didn’t know and he was also sending his brother’s (disability) money also,” she testified. “I told him if he continued on doing it I was going to call the Social Security office on him and I guess that’s what triggered him to shoot me.”

The victim said she saw the defendant with a gun, which wasn’t unusual. But she said she looked away for a moment and when she turned back toward him, ‘he already had the gun and hammer pulled back and his finger on the trigger and he shot me.”

Sgt. Harrison testified when he arrived he found the victim sitting on the couch bleeding heavily. He said her arm appeared “deformed” from the bullet and he could tell it had shattered the bone before going into her chest and exiting near her spine. She spent 6 days in the hospital.

Basford thanked the Washington County Sheriff’s office for their investigative work on the case.

For additional information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.