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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.
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 fishing 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.
Dock where shot was fired
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.
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.
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.
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.
