Third and Final Defendant in Bonifay ATM Robbery Sentenced to 9 years

Posted on June 4, 2026 by Admin SA

The third and final defendant in the robbery of more than $100,000 from the Wells Fargo Bonifay ATM has pled no contest to his charges and was sentenced to 9 years in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Holmes County Chief Prosecutor Jake Cook said the three codefendants in the Bonifay case have now been sentenced to a combined 34 years in prison for the crime.

Traveon Ladarren Burnett, 27, of Pasadena, Texas, was adjudicated guilty Wednesday of Grand Theft of More Than $100,000, Robbery, and Criminal Mischief in the Oct. 18, 2024 robbery of a Bonifay ATM. Circuit Court Judge Russell Roberts accepted the plea and 9-year prison sentence. Judge Roberts also ordered the sentence to be serve consecutive to “any other prison sentences in any other jurisdiction.”

Cook said Burnett was part of a Houston Texas gang linked to ATM robberies across the country. Earlier this year Marcus McLemore pled to the same charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In December, Jacorey DeShawn Hall, 27, entered an open plea on the day of trial to Grand Theft of More Than $100,000 and Robbery, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 30 years of probation.

“Chief Johnny Whitaker and the Bonifay Police Department put a lot of work into what was a very complicated case involving multiple jurisdictions and states,” Cook said. “This crime was well-planned, sophisticated, and the pieces of evidence were spread out all across the country, and now between the three defendants they have a combined 34 years to think about committing crimes in Florida.”

Cook was prepared to call witnesses and present evidence that the defendants caused the Bonifay ATM to malfunction on Oct. 18, 2024, which resulted in a service call for repairs. Burnett and his co-defendants waited over 4 hours after jamming the ATM, and when the technician arrived, they rushed him, beat him away from the ATM, and stole over 100,000 dollars in cash.

Witnesses and video surveillance helped law enforcement identify the getaway car and its tag, and its path of travel back to Panama City Beach. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office found the abandoned car and items in it – like gloves and receipts –that were linked to the Texas gang.

Basford also thanked the Bonifay Police Department and multiple agencies involved for their collaboration.

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

Man guilty in drug-related shooting, robbery that paralyzed victim

Posted on June 4, 2026June 4, 2026 by Admin SA

A man who drove to what was supposed to be a small marijuana transaction but instead shot the seller in the back, paralyzing him, was found guilty of the charges against him Wednesday evening, according to State Attorney Larry Basford.

Dexter Owens, 19, was found guilty late Wednesday of Robbery with a Firearm and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm. Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark set sentencing for July 23. Under Florida’s 10-20-Life Statute, the defendant faces up to Life in prison.

“The plan was to go and rob the victim of his marijuana and that changed when Dexter Owens saw the victim’s gun and decided he wanted it and made the decision to shoot the victim,” Prosecutor Frank Sullivan said. “And that gun was found hidden in a hole in Owens’ closet.”

There were multiple witnesses who testified about various parts of the evening of Oct. 12, 2024. It started with a ride to the victim’s girlfriend’s house to buy a small amount of marijuana and ended with Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies surrounding the defendant’s home as they awaited a search warrant. Nearly a half dozen people emerged from the residence when the warrant was obtained.

Owens drove a car with two passengers to the victim’s girlfriend’s house to buy $30-$60 worth of marijuana, according to several witnesses. The victim, who is paralyzed from the shooting and arrived in court in a wheelchair, testified he got into the backseat and handed a few grams of marijuana to the front-seat passenger.

He said he was waiting for payment and looking at his phone, “and all I hear is Dexter say, ‘Hey, what’s that?’ When I looked up, I didn’t move, and I have a gun pointed at my chest (by Owens).

“I let him take my phone and everything, I was scared to move,” the victim continued. “We’re sitting there a minute or two or so and nothing’s being said … so I try to run.”

The victim, who said he had a gun tucked into his waistband, said he was trying to get out the back door, “and then I feel him physically hit me in the back with the gun and shoot me.”

The car’s passenger said he knew the victim was carrying a gun but did not threaten anyone with it and did not deserve to be shot by his friend Owens, who was driving.

The victim’s phone was left in the car and his girlfriend was able to use an app to tell deputies exactly where the defendants’ car had parked in Panama City. Deputies went to that address and knocked, but no one would answer the door.

They surrounded the house and when a search warrant was signed about two hours later, they ordered everyone out.

Multiple statements to investigators generated evidence pointing to Owens as being the shooter and instigator. Owens’ version of events that night changed multiple times, ranging from he never touched a gun or shot anyone, to he did shoot the victim but it was in self-defense.

In all statements to deputies the reason for the trip in the first place was to buy marijuana. But on the stand Wednesday, Owens claimed he was driving someone there to buy a gun, something he never said in his previous interviews with investigators.

“He lied again, and again, and again, and again during that interview,” Sullivan said. “When somebody is proven to be a liar, you have to think critically, and you have to analyze everything they say. He has proven he will lie to get out of trouble and to avoid getting into trouble and to protect himself, and then he gets into court and tells you something he’s never told anyone before.”

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and it’s Criminal Investigation Division for their work on the case involving multiple suspects and scenes.

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

Impaired man in boxers who killed college-bound student sentenced to 15 years

Posted on May 28, 2026May 28, 2026 by Admin SA

A man who testified he “loved” drinking and did so daily was sentenced to 15 years in prison Thursday for DUI-Manslaughter, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Anthony Charles Hill Jr., 49, of Panama City, was found guilty of crossing the centerline and hitting a disabled vehicle that flipped into the air, crushing and killing Javis Whipple. The defendant emerged from his vehicle wearing only his boxer shorts and was estimated to have had a BAC of up to .23 at the time of the April 14, 2023 wreck.

Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay issued the maximum sentence after final statements from Chief Assistant State Attorney Mark Graham and the defense. Four of the 15 years are minimum-mandatory. His driver’s license is permanently revoked.

“The victim in this case was 23 years old; he was headed for college,” Graham told Judge Gay. “The defendant chose to drink and drive recklessly, and he caused the wreck that took Javis Whipple’s life.

“I would submit the defendant has shown no remorse nor accepted any accountability for his actions,” Graham continued. “Even on the stand he lied to avoid the consequences of his actions, and I think that’s significant.”

Graham also noted the defendant had a “significant” prior record that included a half-dozen felony arrests.

At trial, Graham and Prosecutor Zachary VanDyke called 15 witnesses and presented evidence proving the defendant was guilty. The defendant denied being impaired, saying he only started drinking after the wreck.

Under cross-examination, he said he “loved” drinking and did so daily, but testified he only started chugging liquor that day after the wreck because his passenger/paramour was nagging him.

The evidence showed the victim’s car broke down on County 22-A near Cherry Lane on the night of April 14, 2023. A friend came to help and was parked behind the victim. Both vehicles, facing north on the side of the road, had their headlights and hazard lights on.

The defendant was driving south when he crossed the centerline and hit the victim’s Challenger head-on. The Challenger flipped backward, hitting and killing the victim before coming to a rest nearly 50 feet away in a graveyard.

Hill’s car was going 60 mph in the 35-mph zone.

Williams and other witnesses said Hill got out of his car wearing only a red pair of boxer shorts, appeared impaired, and repeatedly said he did not hit the Challenger and did not know what had happened. Hill at that time claimed he had not been drinking.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol for their response that night and the ensuing accident reconstruction.

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