23-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to 8 Years for Holmes County Burglary

Posted on September 25, 2026 by Admin SA

BONIFAY – A man who was first spotted breaking into a truck by its owner and then identified by motion-detector game camera pictures on the property has been sentenced to 8 years in prison, followed by 5 years of probation, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

William Junior Bryan Jr., 49, of Freeport, was found guilty by a Holmes County jury after deliberating for 20 minutes on Wednesday of Burglary of a Dwelling and Attempted Burglary of a Conveyance. Circuit Court Judge Russell Roberts presided over the one-day trial and sentencing.

Chief Holmes County Prosecutor Jake Cook called three witnesses, including the resident who was awakened during the burglary.

“For lifelong criminals, just like we had in this case, we will continue to seek the maximum penalty under Florida Law,” Cook said. “Hopefully this Defendant thinks twice before he goes out and commits his 26th felony.”

The testimony and evidence showed that the resident of the home was awakened by his barking dog around 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 20. He went to the back porch of the residence and saw a man wearing short and white socks – no shirt or shoes – getting out of his truck.

The resident called 911; he then noticed some items inside his home had been stolen. He checked his deer camera, and it showed a bald white male wearing shorts and socks with no shoes. Deputies spotted the defendant a short distance away and said the man immediately turned around, placed his hands on his head and dropped to his knees.

Basford thanked the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office for its fast response to the call and quick arrest.

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

JURY: Man Guilty of Molesting Child

Posted on September 25, 2026September 25, 2026 by Admin SA

CHIPLEY – A Washington County jury found Ronald Gene Hawkins guilty of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation on a child less than 12 years of age following a trial involving the molestation of a child during summer visits.

Chief Circuit Court Judge Christopher Patterson set sentencing for Nov. 3. The defendant, 69, faces up to Life in prison.

The victim bravely testified to what had occurred in the home several summers ago. Years later, the prospect of returning to the area prompted her to disclose what had happened.

The jury also heard testimony from another witness concerning a separate incident involving the defendant. The court instructed jurors on how they could consider that evidence.

“We are grateful to the victims for their courage in testifying and to the jury for its careful attention to the evidence,” said Washington County Chief Prosecutor Megan Ford.

The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before returning its verdict.

Basford thanked the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for its work on the case.

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

Man Guilty of Shooting Friend in Head During Alcohol-Fueled Argument

Posted on September 25, 2026 by Admin SA

CHIPLEY – A 6-person jury took 35 minutes Wednesday to find Kyle Michael Porter guilty as charged of Manslaughter with a Firearm for shooting a friend in the head as they argued following an unsuccessful fishing trip in 2024.

Chief Circuit Court Judge Christopher Patterson set Porter’s sentencing date for Oct. 6. He faces up to 30 years in prison.

Chief Washington County Prosecutor Megan Ford called six witnesses, including a third person on the fishing trip who witnessed the shooting on the defendant’s dock at Joiner Lake off Teardrop Trail. The witnesses and evidence proved the defendant pulled his gun during an argument on his dock after the trip and shot an unarmed Randy Joseph Lynn once in the head. Lynn fell backward into the lake and died quickly. All three men had been drinking.

“This case is about 15 seconds on a dock and a decision that cannot be taken back,” Ford told jurors. “Randy Lynn did not have a weapon, he did not reach for Kyle’s gun, he did not touch him. Then Kyle introduced a loaded gun into the argument … and approximately 15 seconds passed before Kyle pulled the trigger.

“The evidence will show this was a verbal confrontation with a heavily intoxicated 63-year-old man who moments before could not stand” to get out of the boat.

The victim’s blood-alcohol level was .257, more than three times the legal driving limit.

The evidence and testimony showed that Porter, the victim, and the third person on the fishing trip all worked together and planned a fishing trip on the lake for April 27, 2024. Porter and the third man drove to Southport that morning to pick up the victim, stopping for bait and beer on the way back.

The three were in a small dingy type boat.

The surviving witness said Porter was in back controlling the motor, the victim was in the center of the boat and he was in the front. All three were drinking beer and bourbon but they were not catching any fish.

As they headed back toward the defendant’s dock, they ran through a group of lily pads and the engine became clogged and quit working. In later statements to Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigators, Porter and the surviving witness said the victim became upset and started yelling and arguing with Porter about the engine problem.

The surviving witness said Porter was able to restart the motor and after a brief stop they headed back to the dock with the victim still upset and arguing most of the way. But by the time they reached the dock, the victim had reached a point of intoxication where he could not get out of the boat. The surviving witness tried to help pull him out and eventually he and Porter were able to pull the victim out.

“He started pushing (the third man) quite a bit,” Porter said in his statement. “He comes over to me because I told him to stop and he tells me that he will kill me and at that point man I felt threatened.” Porter claimed the victim charged him and he pulled the trigger.

RELATED: Armed Robber Gets 20 Years

But the other man said while the victim was intoxicated and argumentative, he never tried to get Porter’s gun, never charged Porter, and never tried to touch him or the gun. He said the victim had his hands in the air and was offering to fight both men when Porter pulled the trigger.

“Randy’s hands were up in the air like, ‘Bring it on,’ and Kyle says, ‘I’m going to shoot you’ and a couple of seconds later Kyle pulled the trigger,” the man testified. “Kyle could’ve just walked away.”

After the victim fell in the water, Porter called his wife who was inside their home up a hill from the dock and told her to call 911.

Basford thanked the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and for its thorough investigation that led to the arrest.

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

Pittman sentenced to Life in stabbing death

Posted on September 11, 2026September 11, 2026 by Admin SA

Calvin Lovelle Pittman was sentenced to Life in prison Friday for stabbing and killing a man in a convenience store parking lot in 2023, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Six jurors found Pittman, 47, of Panama City, guilty of Second-Degree Murder and Destruction or Tampering with Physical Evidence in the July 18, 2023 stabbing death of Phillip S. Harvey, 20. Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay presided over the trial and sentencing.

At sentencing, Prosecutor Peter Overstreet outlined Pittman’s criminal history – which includes 12 prior felony convictions – and asked for the maximum sentence of Life.

“Mr. Pittman has shown over and over again that he has no respect for the law or the safety of others,” Overstreet said after sentencing. “He has now taken a young man from his family, his loved ones, his community, in a vicious manner. Our community is safer with him in prison, which is where he will die.”

At sentencing, Harvey’s godmother described him as an advanced student who graduated from a Tallahassee high school IB program and was pursuing a better life. He was “loving, intelligent, caring and worthy … and he deserved so much better than the fate that was forced on him.”

“What makes this even harder to accept is that he did absolutely nothing to deserve what happened to him,” she said to Judge Gay. “He deserved the chance to continue chasing his dreams. He deserved the chance to grow old … instead his family and everyone who loved him has been sentenced to a lifetime of grief.”

During the defendant’s 2-day trial that began July 21, Overstreet proved to jurors that Pittman stabbed the victim in the side while the two were arguing in the victim’s car July 18, 2023. The victim stumbled about 20 feet from the car before collapsing.

At the hospital, Harvey told two nurses that he was stabbed by Pittman during an argument.

Basford thanked @SpringfieldPoliceDepartment and @PanamaCityPoliceDepartment for their collaborative efforts that led to a successful outcome.

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