http://thecountypress.com The Bay County Tabloid The County Press The County Press Evo RSS 2.0 Parser 60 http://thecountypress.com/images/evo/minilogo.gif http://thecountypress.com 94 15 Nuke-Evolution 2.0.7 Powered - Xtreme 2.0 Edition en-us michael@tylermediagroup.com 2010-09-07T03:13:28-05:00 hourly 1 2010-09-07T03:13:28-05:00 http://thecountypress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=288 During a residence check by Parole and Probation of registered sex offender John Eugene Barta, DOB 12/15/60, of 309 Elprado Place, Panama City Beach, officers noted potentially explosive materials in the home. The Bay County Sheriff's Office was contacted at approximately 6:30 pm Friday afternoon, September 3, 2010. Field Service deputies, Special Investigations Division narcotics officers, and the BCSO Bomb Squad responded to the home.
Based on the findings of Parole and Probation, a search warrant was obtained and served. A search of the home revealed that Barta had 8 to 10 pounds of high explosives and 30 to 50 detonators, items that can only be purchased and stored under strict federal regulations and guidelines. Also found in the home was numerous prescription pills. Barta, who lives alone, denied any prior knowledge of the explosive materials.
The explosive materials were disposed of in a safe manner by the BCSO Bomb Squad. Barta was arrested and charged with Violation of Probation for a charge of Failing to Maintain Proper Registration as a Sex Offender in February of 2010, and Possession of Controlled Substance without a Prescription. Additional charges related to the explosive materials are expected.
 
]]> 288@http://thecountypress.com Crime 2010-09-04T14:13:32-05:00 Posted by Michael http://thecountypress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=287 On September 2, 2010, Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a residence in Callaway in reference to a call reporting suspicious people at the home. When deputies arrived they found four people inside the residence.
The four told deputies a family member who lived at the residence had recently passed away and they were there to get family heirlooms before another family member could take them to sell them. Deputies were suspicious and began to track down the owner of the residence.
A short time later the owner was located and found to be alive and well. The owner told the deputies the home was not lived in at the time and they did not know the four people who werein the residence. All four of the individuals were arrested and charged with burglary.
They were:
Terry Loman DOB 12/4/57, of 3636 Lane Road, Panama City, on a charge of Failure to Pay Fine: Driving With License Suspended or Revoked;
Deborah Jackson, DOB 7/28/59, of 9302 Amy Lane, Panama City Beach, on a charge of Burglary of an Unoccupied Dwelling;
Billie Scarborough, DOB 5/14/71, of 19526 Ross Road, on charges of Burglary of an Unoccupied Dwelling
Karen Powell, DOB 5/11/59, of J. Street, Fort Smith, Arizona, on a charge of Burglary of an Unoccupied Dwelling.
As a result of this investigation, it was discovered that two other individuals were also involved with the four suspects. The deputies were directed to 2706 Dorothy Avenue, and made contact with Susan and Darrel Swearingen. The deputies suspected the couple may be involved in illegal drug activity and the Special Investigations Division of the BCSO was notified and responded tothe scene.
Further investigation by narcotics officers revealed the presence of a meth lab at the 2706 Dorothy Avenue home. Susan Swearingen, DOB 7/25/63, was charged with Trafficking in More than 200 grams of Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine, and Possession of Listed Chemicals, and Darrel Swearingen, DOB 12/5/73, were arrested and charged with trafficking in more than 200 grams of Methamphetamine, Manufacture of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Listed Chemicals. All six individuals were taken to the Bay County Jail.
]]> 287@http://thecountypress.com Crime 2010-09-04T09:04:28-05:00 Posted by Michael http://thecountypress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=286 Sean Bussell was convicted Friday after a two-day trial of six counts of possessing child  pornography. He faces up to 30 years in prison when Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet sentences him.
Prosecutor Rob Sale told jurors that Bussell, 36, was in the process of downloading child pornography videos found on his computer on Nov. 8, 2007, when Bay County deputies served a search warrant at his residence.
“When the sheriff’s office deputies walked in,” Sale told jurors, “that computer was downloading child pornography.”
Sale said the incidents of viewing and downloading pornographic material coincided with Bussell’s time at home during breaks from his work offshore. “The defendant had a pornography addiction,” Sale told jurors. “And like any addiction, he had to get harder into it, with harder material to get the same satisfaction. His addiction had gotten so bad, he had crossed the line into child pornography.”]]> 286@http://thecountypress.com Crime 2010-09-04T08:23:14-05:00 Posted by Michael http://thecountypress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=285 Investigators with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office are looking for the people responsible for two car burglaries in the Magnolia Beach Road area of Panama City Beach. The burglaries occurred on August 20, 2010, at about 4 am. Electronics, cash, sunglasses, and credit cards were taken.
At about 5 am the same morning, two individuals were captured on security video as they purchased about $90 dollars in merchandise from the Wal-Mart on Panama City Beach using one of the stolen credit cards. The man and woman bought t- shirts, underwear, bottled water andsodas, and beer. The couple was driving a late 90’s SUV, white with dark trim.
Anyone with information on the identities of these suspects is asked to call Investigator Albert Willis at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at 248-2128, or Crime Stoppers at 785-TIPS.]]> 285@http://thecountypress.com Crime 2010-09-03T12:57:08-05:00 Posted by Michael http://thecountypress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=284 Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen announced today the arrest of an employee at Cedar Grove Elementary on a charge of Battery.
Kelly Evans, DOB 1/24/1970, of 161 N. Larry Drive in Callaway, was a paraprofessional at the school working with a group of students in an afterschool program when the alleged incident occurred.
The victim’s parents have filed a complaint against Evans stating she choked and hit the student while the student was in her care.  Evans was arrested on September 2, 2010, and charged with Battery.
]]> 284@http://thecountypress.com Crime 2010-09-03T12:39:41-05:00 Posted by Michael http://thecountypress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=283 Circuit Judge Dedee Costello released her ruling today on death row inmate Olen Gorby's post-conviction motion.
You Can View the motion here!
]]> 283@http://thecountypress.com Crime 2010-09-03T12:32:56-05:00 Posted by Michael http://thecountypress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=282 Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen announced today the arrest of a suspect in a theft case involving televisions at two local Wal-Mart stores.Security cameras caught the image of a man stealing flat screen televisions at two area Wal-Mart stores. Three separate incidents occurred, beginning on August 17 and ending this past weekend with a total of six televisions taken. Investigators were able to match Griffin to the images of the suspect in the store. Griffin also drove a green Pontiac Plymouth Voyager which matched the vehicle the suspect used in the theft of the televisions.
Two charges of Grand Theft were placed on Griffin, who was already incarcerated in the Bay County Jail on other charges. Griffin had been arrested by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office on August 30, 2010, and charged with child neglect and drug charges. Griffin had recently beenreleased from prison and had contacted his wife in Bay County and asked to see their child, now 18 months old. Griffin’s wife agreed to allow Griffin a take the child for a visit, but when she attempted to contact him to make arrangements for the return of the child she could not find him
or the child. Griffin was no longer staying at the motel he had told her he would be staying with the child. Griffin’s wife then contacted his parents who had not seen him since Sunday, August 29, 2010.  On Monday, August 30, BADGES officers spotted Griffin with the child leaving an area with suspected drug activity. A traffic stop on the vehicle was done and the child was returned to the mother and Griffin was found to be in possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.  Investigators believe Griffin may be connected to several home burglaries in Bay County. Theinvestigation is ongoing with additional charges expected.
]]> 282@http://thecountypress.com Crime 2010-09-01T17:33:01-05:00 Posted by Michael http://thecountypress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=281 The Bay Area Drug Gang Enforcement Squad, also known as BADGES, removed approximately 8 pounds of Marijuana from hitting the streets of Bay County. BADGES along with the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office were made aware of suspicious package. The Panama City Police Department’s K-9 Turk was brought in to the Post Office and indicated the package had drugs inside.
A search warrant was then obtained and the package was opened confirming the presence of marijuana. The package was then resealed and delivered to the indicated address. The package was then accepted by two males identified as Dashae Terrell Lucas and Dwayne Kentrell Davis.  Lucas and Davis attempted to leave the area and were stopped by the BADGES task force.  A search warrant was obtained for their residence and resulted in weapons and drug paraphernalia being discovered. Lucas and Davis were arrested at approximately 12:00 P.M. on August 31, 2010 without incident.
Their charges are listed below:
• Dashae Terrell Lucas, 24 years of age, charged with Keeping or Maintaining A Drug House, Possession Of Marijuana With Intent To Distribute, Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, and being a Fugitive From Justice.
• Dwayne Kentrell Davis, 22 years of age, charged with Keeping Or Maintaining A Drug House, Carrying A Concealed Firearm, Possession Of A Firearm In The Commission Of A Felony, Possession Of Marijuana With Intent To Distribute, Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia.

]]> 281@http://thecountypress.com Crime 2010-09-01T13:24:08-05:00 Posted by Michael http://thecountypress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=280 Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen announced today the arrest of a Youngstown man on charges relating to the molestation of a 12 year old child.  This morning deputies were dispatched to a home in the Youngstown area in reference to a complaint by the parents of a 12 year old child. The parents stated they had discovered that the child had snuck out of the house the night before to meet a 29 year old male.
Investigation into the incident, including interviews with the victim, yielded information of inappropriate sexual contact between the child and adult subject. The suspect was identified as James E. Parker, DOB 12-23-80, 12108 Happyville Rd., Youngstown. Parker was located by investigators at his residence.
During an interview, Parker told investigators he didn't remember molesting the child. Parker eventually admitted to touching the child, but blamed the child for the inappropriate contact.  After the interview, Parker was arrested and charged with one count of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation and taken to the Bay County Jail. He will go to first appearance before a judge tomorrow.
]]> 280@http://thecountypress.com Crime 2010-08-31T17:08:33-05:00 Posted by Michael http://thecountypress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=279 The investigation included the sale of pharmaceuticals, “crack” cocaine and large quantities of marijuana.  Suspects arrested as a result of the narcotics investigation were not only from Washington County, but neighboring counties as well. 

“This investigation focused primarily on high level drug dealers and as a result the Task Force was able to remove many from the community” states Chief Crews.



Arrested were:
  Tedrick Torez Keith, 29 year old black male of Chipley, FL
·         Sale and Delivery of “Crack” Cocaine
·         Sale and Delivery of Marijuana more than 20 grams
  Corey Lamar Massaline, 33 year old black male of Chipley, FL
·         Sale and Delivery of “Crack” Cocaine
  Robert Neil Odom, 45 year old white male of Chipley, FL
·         Sale and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methadone)
  Bobby Gene Claghorn, 43 year old white male of Chipley, FL
·         Sale and Delivery of Marijuana more than 20 grams
  Betsy Anne Green, 45 year old white female of Chipley, FL
·         Principle to the Sale of Controlled Substance
  Brandon Lee Butler, 23 year old white male of Chipley, FL
·         Sale and Delivery of Marijuana more than 20 grams
  Randall Cain Stevens, 44 year old white male of Chipley, FL
·         Sale and Delivery of Methamphetamines
          Jason Bradley Sims, 30 year old white male of Bay County, FL (Arrested in
          Bay County)
·         Principle to the Sale of Methamphetamines
  Jenna McDaniel, 23 year old white female of Sneads, FL (Arrested in Jackson 
  County)
·         Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription
 Both Butler and Claghorn were involved in numerous “buys” over the course of the investigation including considerable amounts of marijuana.  Due to the substantial amount of marijuana sold by both Butler and Claghorn, they are considered high volume dealers.
 
The following individuals are currently at large and are being actively sought at the time of this release:

Wade Daniel Chappell, 18 year old white male of Chipley, FL
·         Sale and Delivery of Methamphetamines

Rebecca Anne Harp, 27 year old white female of Chipley, FL
·         Sale and Delivery of Methamphetamines
·         Possession of Listed Chemicals Used to Manufacture Methamphetamines

Mark Warren Russell, 24 year old white male of Panama City, FL
·         Principle to the Sale of Controlled Substance

Patrick Ryan Walker, 22 year old black male of Campbellton, FL
·         Sale and Delivery of “Crack” Cocaine

Debra Joy Cox, 55 year old white female of Chipley, FL
·         Sale and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methadone)
Douglas Ronald Kent, 31 year old white male of Panama City, FL
·         Sale and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Xanax)
 
“Both Chief Crews and myself have witnessed the devastating effects of the illegal drug market both in Chipley as well as countywide” states Sheriff Haddock.  “It is a top priority for both our agencies to consistently and uncompromisingly put pressure of each person involved with illegal drug activity and send a clear message, stop breaking the law or find a new place to live.”
Sheriff Haddock ask that anyone with information on illegal drug activity contact us at 638-TIPS (8477) or by email at tips@wcso.us. 
]]> 279@http://thecountypress.com Crime 2010-08-31T12:09:19-05:00 Posted by Michael