Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 22 years

Posted on September 28, 2026 by Admin SA

A man found guilty two weeks ago of Trafficking in Methamphetamine (more than 200 grams) was sentenced to 22 years in prison Monday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Because of the volume of methamphetamine involved, Christian Samuel Stepp, 53, of Georgia, will serve the first 15 years of that sentence as a minimum-mandatory under Florida’s enhanced drug trafficking statute. Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stevenson also ordered a $250,000 fine.

“This is a significant penalty for someone trying to bring a large amount of methamphetamine into our community,” lead Prosecutor Christopher Walters said. “The traffickers bringing in these extremely harmful substances will continue to find out there is a price to be paid for their choices.”

Walters again thanked the Bay County Sheriffs Office and its Special Investigations Division for its work in stopping these drugs before they could make it to the streets.

The evidence against Stepp at trial included text messages between the defendant and others, and bodycam of the search warrant being served.

The Sheriff’s Office’s Special SID team served a search warrant in a camper March 14, 2025, near Southport.

The defendant was in bedroom where the drugs were recovered.

Two of the co-defendants – the owner of the camper included – testified against the defendant.

Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office for its proactive investigative work.

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

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 Sexually Assaulting Teen After Providing Alcohol and Drugs

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

A man who drove a 15-year-old girl from Tallahassee, and then sexually assaulted her after he provided her with alcohol and methamphetamine, was found guilty of Lewd and Lascivious Battery Thursday.

State Attorney Larry Basford said Roger Dale Ledbetter Jr., 57, of Tallahassee, will be sentenced Nov. 3 by Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay who presided over the trial.

Prosecutor Morgan McAfee only needed two witnesses: the victim and lead investigator Carl Fondren of the BCSO. The victim testified the defendant got permission to take her to Panama City Beach in 2024. She said along the way they stopped and the defendant bought alcohol for mixed drinks, which they both drank.

She said the defendant also had some methamphetamine, which he used. He told her where it was and that she could try it if she wanted. He then showed her how to prepare and smoke it. Later that night he sexually assaulted her and the following day they returned to Tallahassee.

The victim said she did not report it immediately because she was ashamed.

“I didn’t know what people would think of me,” she testified. “I didn’t want to share my whole story with the adults around. I was unsure if it went to court, how it would work out.”

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for the work put into the investigation that helped lead to a guilty verdict.

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

Armed Robber Sentenced to 20 years

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Admin SA

A man found guilty of hiding in a convenience store locker for an hour before confronting a clerk at gunpoint and robbing the store has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Nestor Omar Perez, 26, was found guilty of Robbery with a Firearm and Grand Theft (more than $750 but less than $5,000) on Sept. 2 He was arrested by the Panama City Police Department Oct. 13, 2023 robbery in the 3000 block of U.S. 98.

Prosecutor Morgan McAfee called 12 witnesses and presented evidence that it was Perez who walked into the store that day, confronted a clerk with a gun, and committed the robbery.

The evidence showed that the defendant, wearing a jacket partially concealing his face, confronted an employee inside the store and pointed a gun at him. The defendant grabbed money from the register and fled north on Beck Avenue.

Minutes later, with police saturating the area, police spotted the defendant walking in socks near 18^th Street and Wilmont Ave. When searched, the defendant had the gun used in the robbery which had distinctive tape wrapped around the handle. They also found cash in his pocket.

Nearby, police found a pair of distinctive green shoes and other clothing that matched what the robber was wearing in a trashcan. Officers also found several hundred dollars nearby on the ground. The amount found on the ground combined with the amount found in the defendant’s pocket matched the amount missing from the store’s register.

The defendant’s car was found parked a short distance away.

State Attorney Larry Basford thanked the Panama City Police Department for its fast response and thorough investigation that helped lead to a quick resolution.

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

Fountain Man Guilty of Trafficking in Meth

Posted on September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 by Admin SA

A Fountain man was found guilty Thursday of Trafficking in Methamphetamine after an investigation and an “alert” from a drug-detecting K-9 led to the discovery of 58 grams of the drug he dumped in the vehicle, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Armando Cavazos, 44, is being held without bond pending his sentencing, which Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson set for Oct. 6. Trafficking in Methamphetamine (more than 28 grams but less than 200 grams) is a First-Degree Felony punishable by a minimum-mandatory 7 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years.

“These dealers keep bringing these deadly drugs into our community, and we will continue to take them to trial as our law enforcement partners continue to put them in jail,” Prosecutor Christopher Walters said. “The Bay County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division and Sgt. Jeremy Head did another good job of getting to this defendant before he got his drugs onto our streets.”

Walters and Prosecutor Ben Bollinger called 5 witnesses – including two co-defendants who were in the vehicle when it was stopped – proving the methamphetamine found in the truck belonged to the defendant.

According to testimony, a co-defendant said he was going to install a radio in the defendant’s vehicle in exchange for some meth. While at the defendant’s property, he had to run home for some electrical tape and gave the defendant and another man a ride so they could stop at a nearby store.

They were under surveillance by members of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office SID. When the driver failed to stop at a stop sign, they were pulled over. Inv. Dwight Cummings deployed his K-9 for a “free-air” sniff around the car and it alerted to the presence of drugs.

Attorneys confer with Judge Dustin Stephenson

Investigators testified a baggie containing a white substance was visible on the back floorboard. When the car was searched investigators found the baggie contained 58 grams of what turned out to be methamphetamine.

The driver of the vehicle testified that when deputies turned on their emergency lights to pull them over, he watched Cavazos, in the passenger’s seat, pull out a baggie filled with white powder and stuff it behind him onto the back floorboard.

The defendant was also found guilty of Tampering with a Witness. After his arrest, a recorded jail call showed he was trying to conspire with one of the co-defendants to blame the driver.

Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office and SID for another investigation targeting a major dealer that concluded before the drugs could be sold on the street.

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

20 Years For Fleeing While On Probation For Vehicular Homicide

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Admin SA

A man who had been out of prison less than a year for Vehicular Homicide was sentenced to 20 years Wednesday after violating his probation by fleeing from police after he was spotted racing another vehicle.

State Attorney Larry Basford said Javonte Terrell Davis, 21, for violating his probation, was given the maximum sentence of 15 years the State originally sought when he was sentenced in 2022. He was given an addition 5-year sentence to be served consecutively for Fleeing and Attempting to Elude.

Prosecutor Peter Overstreet said Davis’ original offense was July 30, 2021, when the black Dodge Charger he was driving ran two stop signs and hit the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle. The defendant, a juvenile at the time, was going 65 mph at the time of collision. The driver of the second car, a 16-year-old girl, died in the violent collision.

On Jan. 5, 2023, Davis entered an open plea to Vehicular Homicide Jan. 5, 2023, meaning the judge would decide the sentence. He was facing up to 15 years in prison. Overstreet asked for that maximum, however the court sentenced Davis as a Youthful Offender to 3 years in prison to be followed by 3 years’ probation. Part of his sentence was a lifetime driver’s license revocation. He was released from prison July 22, 2025.

Defendant’s car in 2022 Vehicular Homicide

On April 17, 2026, he was arrested or Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, and Racing. He was driving a 2021 Dodge Charger when Lynn Haven police saw him going about 45 mph beside a Ford Mustang. “Both vehicles then accelerated to a top speed of 72 mph in a 45 mph zone,” the arresting officer said.

The officer caught the Mustang; the Charger fled. That driver said it was his brother, Javonte Davis, driving the Charger. The car and defendant were located a short time later. A Violation of Probation charge was added.

“In 2022 I prosecuted this case and asked for the maximum sentence,” Overstreet said. “It was decided this defendant deserved a second chance. And what did he do with that chance? He’s out of prison less than a year driving another Dodge Charger, racing other vehicles and recklessly fleeing from police. He is out of chances.”

In addition, Overstreet noted the defendant’s license was permanently revoked in 2022.

Basford thanked the Parker Police Department for its work on the original case and the Lynn Haven Police Department for its proactive street enforcement. For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Man guilty of Aggravated Battery for shooting man he met online

Posted on November 6, 2025 by Admin SA

An Alabama man who unsuccessfully claimed he was expecting to meet a woman he found on a social media app was found guilty Wednesday of shooting the man who showed up at his hotel, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Marques Isaiah Player, of Sylacuaga, Ala., was found guilty of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm (great bodily injury). Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark set sentencing for Dec. 18.

“This case presents a cautionary tale about meeting and ‘hooking up’ with random strangers you meet on dating apps,” Prosecutor Frank Sullivan said. “Not everyone on the internet is who they claim to be, and that can be dangerous for both parties.”

Part of Player’s defense was that he thought he was messaging with a woman on social media apps in the hours before the May 1, 2022 shooting. They agreed to meet at the defendant’s beach motel room. The defendant said it was only when he got in the truck that he realized it was a man, and he fired a shot out of fear when he saw an empty gun holster in the truck.

But Prosecutor Frank Sullivan, who called 5 witnesses, entered evidence gathered by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office that proved the defendant knew the victim was a man before the meeting took place.

“At some point in time this defendant realizes he’s not talking to a female, he’s talking to another male,” Sullivan said. “And they continued to converse on Snapchat and Mr. Player ultimately agreed to meet up with the victim.”

Snapchat messages recovered by Sheriff’s Office investigators showed the defendant sent one message to the victim stating, “If u a dude imma kill u.” Another from the defendant, sent before the two met, said, “should’ve told me Ian (I ain’t) gay.” The victim testified he told the defendant in the messages he was a man.

Surveillance video showed that the victim pulled into the hotel parking lot and sat there for several minutes. The defendant is seen leaving his hotel room, pulling a gun from his pants pocket, racking a round into the chamber and then putting the gun back in his pocket before eventually walking over to the victim’s vehicle.

The defendant is seen opening the passenger door of the victim’s truck but only remaining for seconds before shooting the victim and running away on foot. The victim was able to call 911 for assistance while the defendant and a friend fled in the friend’s Jeep. The Sheriff’s Office’s BAYROC monitoring system was used to show it crossed the Hathaway Bridge headed into Panama City minutes after the shooting. At 4:02 a.m. the vehicle, and the suspects, were found and taken into custody at a gas station near 23^rd Street and U.S. 231. The gun used in the shooting was in the vehicle.

Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office for its work on the case and the quick arrest.

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