PANAMA CITY — A local man convicted of raping a mentally disabled woman has been sentenced to life in prison, according to court documents.

Gary Lynn Sprouse Jr., 48, was sentenced to life in prison after a one-day jury trial in which prosecutors demonstrated he raped a woman with Down syndrome in her home in October 2014. Prosecutors argued for a life sentence Monday, arguing Sprouse was a habitual violent criminal, before a Bay County judge allowed an enhancement to his punishment, court records indicated.

Sprouse was arrested after Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators responded to the emergency room of a local hospital where the victim and her family gave statements indicating Sprouse attacked her while he was visiting the family’s home.

Sprouse emerged from a bathroom of the home after an unusually long time and then left, according to BCSO reports. The victim later came out of the bathroom complaining of pain, and she told her family Sprouse attacked her. The victim, a mentally handicapped woman, had physical signs consistent with her allegations.

Sprouse faced at least 30 years in prison for the incident, but Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet sentenced him to life in prison after prosecutors filed for an enhanced sentence.

Sprouse has a felony history in Bay County stemming back to 1987. Since that time, he has been found guilty of several counts of aggravated battery, grand theft auto, resisting arrest with violence and numerous traffic felonies, including DUI and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, according to court records.

Sprouse was sentenced Monday to life in prison for the most recent charges of sexual battery on an intellectual disabled person and lewd or lascivious battery upon a disabled adult.

PANAMA CITY — Charges have been upgraded to second-degree murder for a local man accused of beating his girlfriend to death, according to court records.

Justin L. Davis, 28, faced a charge of manslaughter in connection with the August 2014 death of his live-in girlfriend, 31-year-old Jessica Brandy Huey. After a state hospital deemed him competent to stand trial, however, prosecutors filed new charges of second-degree murder against Davis, arguing he was of a “depraved mind” at the time of Huey’s death, court records indicated.

According to amended information prosecutors filed in June, Davis allegedly killed Huey on Aug. 19 by striking her on the face and head. Officials reported those blows broke Huey’s neck, but Davis did not call for medical attention. The series of events “exhibited a depraved mind without regard for human life,” although the alleged actions were not premeditated, the prosecution argued.

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The case will continue toward trial despite Davis having been previously deemed incompetent to stand trial. The state hospital that issued the competency ruling reversed itself, and the prosecution is continuing to build its case against Davis.

Police responded to the home of Davis at 600 E. Eighth Court the morning after the alleged attack. Responding officers and EMS personnel discovered Huey already dead at about 8:45 a.m. when they arrived, according to a Panama City Police news release.

Davis and his mother and grandmother had been living in the home until his girlfriend moved in about a month before the incident, according to neighbors’ accounts. Many had seen the couple walking together through the neighborhood the day before.

Police later arrested Davis after witness statements indicated a domestic violence incident led to Huey’s death, the Panama City Police news release stated. Officials reported Davis was arguing with Huey when it escalated into violence. During the fighting, Huey’s neck snapped and she died, officials said.

Davis was still present at the residence and was taken to the police department for questioning.

If convicted of second-degree murder, Davis could face a life sentence. The maximum penalty for manslaughter is 15 years.

PANAMA CITY — A man who was arrested in connection with the accidental shooting death of his 6-year-old daughter will not face criminal charges, officials announced Wednesday.

Prosecutors said they will not pursue criminal charges against 29-year-old Evan Hernandez of Panama City for the shooting death of his daughter, Isabella Votta.

Hernandez was in his apartment “practicing form in front of a mirror” with a loaded handgun on May 3 when it accidentally discharged. The bullet went through the mirror and a wall and struck his daughter in another room.

--- DOCUMENT: READ THE FINDINGS AND EXPLANATION OF NO CHARGES»»

However, the circumstances of the incident did not meet the legal threshold for the state to pursue charges, prosecutor Bob Sombathy wrote in his review of the case.

“I am of the opinion that these facts do not meet the legal threshold necessary to sustain a manslaughter charge,” Sombathy wrote. “The facts show that this was an accidental shooting which led to the tragic death of Isabella. Although accidental, the father of a young child will have to live with the tragic results of his actions forever.”

Sombathy said in his report that culpable negligence also was ruled out. Hernandez had no animosity toward his daughter, had no criminal history, was extremely remorseful following the incident and, most importantly, he attempted to ensure the handgun was not loaded, according to Sombathy.

“Hernandez unloaded the magazine on the weapon believing the weapon was made safe, forgetting there was a single bullet in the chamber,” he wrote. “If there was evidence he intentionally fired the weapon, the result of this review would likely be very different.”

The shooting occurred about 10:30 a.m. at Andrews Place Apartments at 1914 Frankford Ave.

PCPD officers arrived after they received a 911 call that a child had been shot.

Neighbors said they heard the scuffling of what sounded like children’s feet overhead from their apartment moments before they heard a single gunshot. A short time later, they said they heard Hernandez wailing from his third-floor balcony as emergency crews were called.

Votta was taken to Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart Health System, where she died, police said.

“It appears the shooting was accidental,” PCPD said in a news release after the incident.

In a court document filed after the shooting pertaining to emergency custody of Votta’s surviving brother, Hernandez said he was “practicing form” when the gun discharged.

The bullet went through the mirror and into another room before fatally injuring the 6-year-old, court documents indicated.

Hernandez and Cynthia Votta, Isabella’s mother, had been engaged in a heated custody battle for her and her brother since 2011.

--- DOCUMENT: READ THE FINDINGS AND EXPLANATION OF NO CHARGES»»

In a court document filed after the shooting regarding emergency custody of their son, Cynthia Votta said that she believed Hernandez was extremely careless with the life of their daughter. She told investigators, however, she did not believe the shooting was on purpose, Sombathy reported.

The court found that since Hernandez was not being charged in a criminal investigation, the younger son would remain in his custody, according to court documents.

“The facts of the case are tragic,” he wrote. “All the evidence in this case suggests the firing of the gun was accidental. Isabella was not even in the same room when her father trigger tested the gun. Mr. Hernandez immediately sought help after he checked on his daughter, and he showed extreme remorse and guilt that one would expect from such a tragic event.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A water district has sued Tom Selleck, claiming the star of the crime shows “Magnum, P.I.” and “Blue Bloods” stole truckloads of water from a public hydrant and took it to his ranch in drought-stricken California.

The Calleguas Municipal Water District in Ventura County claims a tanker truck filled up at a hydrant more than a dozen times and hauled water to a 60-acre ranch owned by Selleck in Westlake Village.

The Los Angeles Times says Selleck grows avocados at the ranch.

The district also says it spent nearly $22,000 to hire a private investigator to document the alleged thefts that date back two years.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department also investigated and was unable to establish that a crime occurred, Capt. John Reilly said.

Representatives for Selleck did not return phone messages and emails seeking comment Wednesday. The lawsuit also names his wife, Jillie Selleck.

The lawsuit was submitted to Ventura County Superior Court on Tuesday.

California communities have been ordered to cut water use compared with 2013 levels due to the relentless, four-year drought. The area where Selleck has his land is under mandatory cutbacks as high as 36 percent.

The district claims it sent Selleck cease-and-desist letters aimed at halting the unlawful water deliveries, but the truck was spotted as recently as March filling up at the hydrant on four days and delivering water to the ranch.

The suit does not specify how much water was taken.

In addition to legal fees and investigative costs, the water district is seeking an injunction barring Selleck and his contractors or employees from taking water from the district.

Police said Wednesday they were investigating video that appears to show Ariana Grande licking doughnuts at a shop in Southern California. Earlier, Grande apologized for saying “I hate America” in the same video.

Police in Lake Elsinore, where the doughnut shop is located, said they and Riverside County public health officials were investigating the leaked video, which appeared to show the 22-year-old singer and a man with her “maliciously lick” the doughnuts.

Mayra Solis, 22, a cashier on duty at Wolfee Donuts when Grande went into the store, said the singer didn't purchase any of the doughnuts she licked.

“She was really rude,” Solis told The Associated Press.

Earlier Wednesday, Grande said in a statement to the AP that she's a proud American.

“I am EXTREMELY proud to be an American and I've always made it clear that I love my country. What I said in a private moment with my friend, who was buying the doughnuts, was taken out of context and I am sorry for not using more discretion with my choice of words,” the statement read.

In the video posted Tuesday by TMZ, Grande says “What ... is that? I hate Americans. I hate America” when a tray of doughnuts appears in front of her.

Grande said she chose to express herself as she did because she leads a healthy lifestyle and is upset with “how freely we as Americans eat and consume things without giving any thought to the consequences.”

“The fact that the United States has one of the highest child obesity rates in the world frustrates me. We need to do more to educate ourselves and our children about the dangers of overeating and the poison that we put into our bodies,” she said. “However I should have known better in how I expressed myself; and with my new responsibility to others as a public figure I will strive to be better.”

Asked about the police investigation, Grande's representatives said she would not have further comment.

Dottie Ellis-Merki, a spokeswoman for the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, said the agency was investigating why the doughnuts were left out unprotected and exposed to the public, in violation of state food laws. She said investigators found no further issues at the shop on Wednesday.

“During the investigation, the manager did state they normally don't leave donuts out like was shown in the video,” Ellis-Merki said in an email to the AP. “The employee went to the back to retrieve freshly made donuts by request of the customer and left the trays out while getting other trays.”

Grande also announced Wednesday that she would not perform at the MLB All-Star Concert on Saturday. She said it had nothing to do with the leaked video.

“As for why I cannot be at the MLB show, I have had emergency oral surgery and due to recovery I cannot attend the show,” she said. “That being said let me once again apologize if I have offended anyone with my poor choice of words.”

Fekadu reported from New York and Armario from Los Angeles.

PANAMA CITY — A man involved in a waffle house brawl has pleaded no contest to charges related to battery on an officer, according to court records.

Corey Leeser, 34, was sentenced to four years of probation following an altercation with a Bay County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant at the Waffle House at 7000 Thomas Drive. He was initially arrested in March on charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence and depriving an officer of means to communicate.

Leeser was screaming at witnesses when the officer arrived. He then became physical when the officer began to escort him out of the restaurant. At one point, he pinned the officer against a wall in foyer, elbowed him in the side and tried to tear away the officer’s radio.

Leeser then ran from the foyer to be arrested by other BCSO officers nearby.

BLOUNTSTOWN — A Youngstown woman sought on 17 felony charges of animal cruelty and a hit-and-run accident has connections with what Calhoun County Sheriff Office (CCSO) officials suspect is a statewide theft ring, officials confirmed Thursday.

What initially was reported as a couple of suspicious people at an unoccupied house on County 167 in west Calhoun County has unfolded into a much larger, multi-agency investigation into a tri-state theft ring, officials said. Two people have been arrested so far in connection with a set of stolen guns found on the property, and the remaining suspects at large could be armed and dangerous, according to Calhoun County Sheriff Glenn Kimbrell.

“I think they will be,” he said, “but it’s an ongoing investigation and far-reaching. This stretches from here all the way to Atlanta, Ga.”

Investigators were back on scene Thursday morning looking over the site where two people hastily abandoned the home and a truck at about 5:30 p.m. Monday when CCSO deputies approached. Authorities had been alerted to the home moments earlier by someone reporting suspicious activity.

“Both of the individuals fled when they saw our guys, so that was a pretty good indication they shouldn’t have been there,” Kimbrell said.

After a foot chase across county lines led to the arrest of 28-year-old Delana Pearson, CCSO was joined in their investigation by law enforcement from Bay and Jackson counties. Officers discovered 12 firearms on the property and a gun safe, which holds 40 firearms, only halfway to capacity. Investigators traced the safe back to a theft in Enterprise, Ala. The next day, a second person, Brett Creamer, was arrested in connection with the stolen guns.

Where the remaining weapons could be or how many people might be involved remains a mystery to law enforcement.

“We don’t have a definite number at this point,” Kimbrell said. “If I were to guess, I’d say probably at least six people.”

BCSO declined to comment on their involvement in the investigation.

One of those sought for questioning in connection with the theft ring is 33-year-old Lindsay Sanders. She was arrested in February and later charged with 17 felony animal cruelty charges after BCSO discovered what they called a Great Dane “puppy mill” at her Youngstown home. Several dead or emaciated dogs were found on the property, and investigators discovered Tuesday that Sanders has ties to the truck found on the Calhoun County property.

CCSO officials confirmed the truck was registered to 38-year-old Mark Tyus, Sanders’ husband. Tyus, however, is in custody at Washington County’s jail for allegedly violating his probation on a felony battery charge.

Family members of Sanders said investigators approached them Tuesday to inquire as to her whereabouts for questioning, but they haven’t been able to contact her recently.

Troubles have been mounting for Sanders. She’s also being sought by law enforcement and bail bondsmen after failing to appear in court for a hit-and-run case, which occurred after she posted a $17,000 bond on the felony animal cruelty charges. Now authorities are seeking her and several others in connection with a theft ring that might possess an unknown number of firearms.

Sanders’ family expressed concern for her safety or others who might encounter her.

“We have done all we can to help get her arrested,” the unidentified family member said. “… She needs to be stopped before something terrible happens to her or someone else.”

PANAMA CITY — A Bay County Sheriff’s Office K9 officer died after a long-lived life due to age-related causes, officials announced Thursday.

BCSO K9 Argos was a Belgian Malinois purchased in 2002 from a facility in the United States, but he was born in Europe. Argos’ handler was Deputy Jeff Duggins, BCSO reported.

Argos was known for his boundless energy and desire to work. He served as a dual purpose K9, meaning not only did he do the usual K9 work of chasing down bad guys to bite and hold them for his partner to arrest, but Argos was trained in narcotics detection work as well.

Although Argos remained a vital and active K9 years longer than most dogs. In 2013, Duggins noticed he was getting a little slower and felt it was time for Argos to retire. He went home to live with Duggins’ family.

Argos was put down Thursday due to respiratory problems. He was 15½ years old.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Police have arrested three people on drug-related charges during traffic stops, officials announced Friday.

Lane A. Connors, 30, and Calvin Thomas Jones, 35, were arrested and charged early Friday after police allegedly found 3.5 grams of methamphetamine and three alprazolam pill on Connors, the Panama City Beach Police Department reported. Police also allegedly found five methadone pills on Jones, police reported.

Connors was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance.

Murr’s arrest came later in a similar traffic stop. Police allegedly found 16 grams of methamphetamine, 41 methadone pills, one Xanax and one clonazepam, police reported.

He was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of methadone with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled substance.

PANAMA CITY — Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials are planning for an unprecedented investment in Bay County roadways in the coming years.

FDOT officials provided an update on several major projects at the Bay County Chamber of Commerce’s monthly First Friday meeting, the most substantial being the 23rd Street flyover project.

The design portion is now complete for the three-year flyover project, which is slated for completion in fall 2018. During construction, FDOT plans to maintain all existing travel lanes by way of a temporary road.

“This is an exciting time for transportation in the state of Florida,” said Jared Perdue, a design engineer for the FDOT’s Panhandle district, citing a $9.9 billion budget for the agency under Gov. Rick Scott’s “Keep Florida Working” budget.

“It’s pretty amazing, and what’s really exciting is the Panhandle is getting to realize the benefits of all that funding,” Perdue said. “You have some major, major transportation projects in the area.”

The flyover project alone carries a $68 million construction cost.

“Obviously, the intent here is to fly over the railroad, fly over 23rd Street and fly over Collegiate Drive and the port entrance, so as to alleviate the congestion there,” Perdue said. “It’s going to be an awesome project once it gets going.”

Another major project in the pipeline for Bay County is the State 390 widening project, which will take the roadway from two lanes to six between 23rd Street in Panama City and State 77 in Lynn Haven. Additionally, the project would make the corridor pedestrian-friendly by adding 6-foot sidewalks on each side of the roadway, as well as designated bike lanes and roadway lighting.

“This is tremendous to me because State 390 is not a friendly place for pedestrians now,” said Perdue, who described the project as “very expensive, but very needed.”

The project will be conducted in three segments, with the first two spanning from 23rd Street to Jenks Avenue and carrying a construction cost of about $30 million. Work will begin on the first two segments in August 2017 with completion anticipated in fall 2019.

The third section of the project, a $22 million construction project from Jenks Avenue to State 77, is slated to begin in April 2018 and wrap up sometime in 2020.

Perdue also made note of a project in the works to expand State 388, the only access road to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in West Bay, from two to four lanes, with plans to eventially widen to six lanes in the future.

PANAMA CITY — A Fountain man accused of plotting to bind and torture his girlfriend until death has been deemed mentally unfit to stand trial, according to court documents.

Paul Thomas Carhart, 64, was found incompetent to proceed with a trial on charges related to an incident in which officials said he attempted to kill his girlfriend. Circuit Judge Brantley Clark ruled on the decision at May’s end, but intermittent meetings still are scheduled because the court reserved that the ruling could be reversed, court documents indicated.

The medical cause for Carhart’s mental issues remains unclear.

Carhart claimed during an interview that jail doctors performed impromptu brain surgery on him against his will following his arrest. He said they removed a portion of his frontal lobe. However, federal law protects the confidentiality of medical records.

Carhart’s defense attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

Bay County Jail Warden Rick Anglin said no surgeries of any kind are performed at the jail.

“We don’t even have an operating room,” he said.

Carhart is scheduled to appear in court again July 28 on charges of attempted felony murder and false imprisonment.

Carhart initially was arrested in September while attempting to leave a Greenbriar Drive home. A small group of people in the neighborhood were pointing frantically at his car and calling out for the officers to prevent Carhart’s escape, according to Bay Copunty Sheriff’s Office reports.

When deputies spoke with Carhart, he stated he intended to kill his girlfriend, Nancy Helms, and had fantasized about it for months, BCSO reported. Investigators said he planned first to mutilate and torture her using various tools in front of a mirror so she would be forced to watch.

Helms said she had told Carhart he would have to move out of her home, and he went into a rage, according to investigators. For nearly four hours Helms struggled against Carhart, attempting to escape to a neighbor’s home, she reportedly told authorities. She had been beaten and strangled and her head slammed on the concrete, she said.

Carhart allegedly also tried to duct tape her hands and told authorities he intended to torture Helms before a bathroom mirror so she could watch her demise, BCSO said.

EMS arrived and began to administer aid to Helms in a neighbor’s home. She appeared to be in severe pain and going in and out of consciousness from having been struck several times in the face, BCSO reported.

BCSO deputies were able to stop Carhart and put him in a patrol car, where he told them he had hurt his girlfriend, the officers reported.

Carhart was charged with attempted felony murder and false imprisonment. He remains in custody on a combined $150,000 bond.

PANAMA CITY — The mother of a 6-year-old girl shot by her father said state prosecutors’ decision to not press charges in the fatal incident was a failure of justice.

However, prosecutors maintained the shooting was accidental and did not meet the legal threshold to levy charges.

More than two months ago, a gunshot rang out from an apartment in the Andrews Place Apartment complex at 1914 Frankford Avenue, leaving 6-year-old Izabella Votta dead. Her father, 30-year-old Evan Hernandez, had pulled the trigger in an attempted “dry fire” test from his bedroom when the bullet traveled through the wall and struck his daughter in the head, according to investigation records.

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--- DOCUMENT: READ THE FINDINGS AND EXPLANATION OF NO CHARGES»»

Most recently, the State Attorney’s Office announced charges would not be filed against Hernandez. Cynthia Votta, mother of Izabella, said the decision seemed like a miscarriage of justice.

“Justice is not served,” Votta said. “My daughter lost her life out of her father’s carelessness and he still has more rights than anyone else.”

Prosecutor Bob Sombathy, who investigated circumstances surrounding the shooting and declined to file charges, said the state’s decision not to prosecute relied on evidence that supported the claim that Hernandez accidentally discharged the gun.

“It comes down to whether it was an accident or not,” Sombathy said. Hernandez “thought he unloaded the gun before he pulled the trigger, and there was no evidence to counteract that.”

Hernandez, despite multiple attempts Thursday and Friday, could not be reached for a comment, but he did speak on the record with police in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

In a Panama City Police Department interview room, officers removed the cuffs from Hernandez’s hands before breaking the news his daughter was dead.

“Don’t tell me that, please, no,” Hernandez said, sobbing. “God help me. … I’ll never forgive myself for it; I’ll never forgive myself for it.”

Hernandez then details for the officers the events leading up to the shooting. He and his two children were preparing to go to his parents’ Fountain home to practice firing the gun. The children were dressing in the living room while Hernandez went back into his room, he said.

“I gave Izabella her clothes and put them on the floor where she was standing,” Hernandez told investigators. “She was standing to change clothes. I went into my bedroom and I was raising the gun to the mirror. And I pulled the trigger. The gun went off.”

Hernandez dropped the gun and ran into the living room to find Isabella bleeding from the head and her brother only feet away. He immediately ran for help from a neighboring law enforcement officer, but Isabella would be pronounced dead a short time later.

“She was my everything. She was my angel,” Hernandez told the officers. “And I took her life. I don’t want to be here. … I want to go to jail, please.”

Votta said despite Hernandez’s remorse, she thought charges would have been necessary.

--- MORE: NO CHARGES FOR FATHER»»

--- DOCUMENT: READ THE FINDINGS AND EXPLANATION OF NO CHARGES»»

“My mind is blown as to how it’s not negligence or child abuse or anything,” Votta said. “If it would have been anybody else in this world, they would have been charged. It just goes to show that not all the same rules apply to everybody in Bay County.”

Sombathy countered that a homicide is excusable if all evidence points to the incident being an accident. He also pointed out that Votta agreed Hernandez would not have intentionally shot their daughter.

“It is tragic,” Sombathy added. “If there was any evidence that this was on purpose, this case would be much different.”

Information is provided by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office on people arrested on charges July 1-7. Those arrested can contact The News Herald if charges are dropped or if they are acquitted. Addresses are those given by the defendant during arrest.

--- MUGSHOTS»»

Kelly Zimbro Kish, 38, 5878 N. Lamp Post Drive, Beverly Hills, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, manufacture, sell or deliver

Melody Ann Andrews, 30, 12515 Silver Lake Road, Panama City, possession of controlled substance without prescription

Jeremie Wayne Ulsh, 29, 3908 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach, possession of weapon or ammunition by felon

Jaston Jamil Ghant, 27, 1503 E. Ninth Court, Panama City, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, manufacture, sell or deliver, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, manufacture, sell or deliver

Ericka Jennifer Snerling, 20, 1707 Hamilton Ave., Panama City, neglect child without great bodily harm

Aaron Michael Kreps, 40, 5664 E. Highway 98, Parker, felony battery or domestic battery by strangulation, sexual assault

Lisa Jane Bernal, 43, 619 Marvin Ave., Port St. Joe, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, manufacture, sell or deliver

Jose Antonio Lorenzana-Hart, 43, 7433 Campflowers Road, Panama City, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, manufacture, sell or deliver, possession of controlled substance without prescription

Christina Hope Baker, 35, 812 Dolphin Drive, Panama City Beach, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, manufacture, sell or deliver

--- MUGSHOTS»»

Michael Andrew McClard, 45, 6020 Beach Drive, Panama City Beach, felony battery or domestic battery by strangulation

Aj  Zolicoffer, 32, 5304 Robert Holmes Drive, Parker, felony battery

Deborah Renee Parrish, 49, 2807 E First Court, Panama City, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill

Chris Miles Williams, 65, 4106 W. 21st Place, Panama City, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill

Courtney Takiah Shea, 23, 8907 Crooked Creek Drive, Panama City Beach, possession of cocaine, possession of controlled substance without prescription

Richard  Whitehurst, 23, 3325 W. 23rd St., Panama City, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, manufacture, sell or deliver

Jon Michael Hayse, 49, 141 Gwyn Drive, Panama City Beach, aggravated battery with use of a deadly weapon

Amber Leigh Mikles, 37, 1133 Beck Ave., Panama City, possession of controlled substance without prescription

Misty Dawn Alderidge, 27, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, manufacture, sell or deliver

Sean Thomas Terry, 21, 123 Moss Ave., Vernon, burglary

--- MUGSHOTS»»

Thomas Jennings Mayer, 25, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, manufacture, sell or deliver

Miguel A Pascual-Perez, 35, 3700 21st Place, Panama City, aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability

Eddie  Washington, 60, Stone Mountain, Ga., possession of cocaine

Andres Sandoval Sanchez, 49, Millbrook, Ala., battery

Loren Lee Elliot, 55, 287 Helen Ave., Springfield, burglary

Chalette D Shawn Burress, 39, 905 W. 26th St., Lynn Haven, possession of cocaine

Nathan William Brown, 33, 12327 Hwy 77, Panama City, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, manufacture, sell or deliver

Destin Skylar Williams, 25, 105 Charles Claude, Panama City, possession of controlled substance without prescription

Chase Randall Odom, 21, Bessemer, Ala., possession of controlled substance without prescription

Michael Paul Oleksy, 60, 115 N. Hwy 22a, Panama City, aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability

Kenneth Casey Fox Spurlock, 25, 406 W. 26th St., Lynn Haven, aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability

Stephanie Virginia Laster, 41, 6812 Jessa Road, Panama City, possession of controlled substance without prescription

Megan Elissa Cherry, 26, 2900 Airport Road, Panama City, possession of controlled substance

--- MUGSHOTS»»

Christopher Alan Conkle, 37, 2119 W. 28th Court, Panama City, abuse child without great bodily harm

Clarence Dan Bearden, 68, Clanton, Ala., sexual battery

Christopher William Mccall, 20, 1113 Connecticut Ave., Lynn Haven, burglary

Jacob Miles Cassell, 33, Columbus, Texas, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, manufacture, sell or deliver

Brandon Demar Robinson, 26, 510 Maine Ave., Panama City, abuse child without great bodily harm

Michael Jon Higbee, 41, 307 Lantana St., Panama City, burglary

PANAMA CITY — A local man has been arrested after allegedly pinning his former girlfriend to ground and threatening to cut off her arm with a butcher’s knife, according to arrest records.

Jonathan Mixon, 28, was arrested Thursday on charges of felony battery and false imprisonment after an argument with his former girlfriend allegedly escalated into violence and threats, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Officers reported Mixon became angry at the former girlfriend at about noon at his residence after the two had a discussion over custody and the fact she had a new boyfriend. He then allegedly grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head against the wall before placing his hands around her throat, BCSO reported.

Mixon also allegedly pinned the woman’s body on the ground with the weight of his body and restrained her hands above her head while armed with a butcher’s knife. All the while he made threats of bodily harm, officers said.

“How about I cut your arm off so you can bleed out slowly,” officers quoted Mixon as saying. He also threatened to cut off her fingers, BCSO added.

Mixon was arrested after the former girlfriend was able to get free. He is being held on a combined $40,000 bond.

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS — Buffalo Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer was arrested Sunday in Florida after shoving a boy to the ground and punching him, authorities said.

The Walton County Sheriff's Office said the dispute arose after Kromer and his son confronted three boys about their use of beach chairs while fishing near their home. In a statement, the sheriff's office said Kromer grabbed the boys' fishing pole and threw it in the water before assaulting one boy.

"The victim stated Kromer also told him if he reported him to the police he would kill his family," the sheriff's office said.

Kromer, 48, was taken into custody just before 2 a.m. Sunday and released on bond about an hour later, jail records show.

He is charged with battery that caused bodily harm, but the sheriff's office said it was still investigating and additional charges are possible. The sheriff's office did not release the names or ages of the boys who were involved in the incident.

In a written statement, the Bills said, "We are aware of the report and in the process of gathering the facts."

Kromer joined the team in January after being fired from the Chicago Bears. 

TALLAHASSEE — Florida legislators might consider tweaking the state’s sex-offender law after the prosecution of a couple seen having a midday romp on the beach, radio talk-show caller “Matt from Fort Walton Beach” said on the air Tuesday.

“I think we may look at those instances where you don’t have someone who is harmed by the offense, as much as harmed by the viewing of the offense, and perhaps treat those differently,” said the caller, better known as Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach.

Gaetz, a tough on crime Panhandle Republican, called the morning show on SiriusXM Radio channel POTUS, which in this case stands for “Politics of the United States.”

The radio topic of the hour was a 2½-year sentence given Monday to Jose Caballero, 40, the man involved in an amorous seaside encounter in Manatee County that drew international headlines. Caballero and Elissa Alvarez, 21, were found guilty in May on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior. The 2014 incident at Bradenton Beach was videotaped, and a second-hand account was given during the trial that a 3-year-old girl was among those who witnessed the sandy coupling.

Caballero and Alvarez are now members of Florida’s list of sexual offenders and predators. Caballero received additional jail time because he previously served eight years in prison for cocaine trafficking.

On the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s website, Alvarez’ crime is listed as “lewd or lascivious exhibition, victim under 16, offender 18 or older.”

Gaetz had called POTUS to defend the state’s sexual-offender law, which was strengthened a year ago while he chaired the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, a fact he noted on air.

“We seem to attract our fair share of crazies in the Sunshine State, and we want to protect our citizens,” Gaetz said while on the air. “That’s why we’re the only state in America that has a 50-year mandatory prison sentence for anyone who rapes a child under the age of 12.”

Gaetz clarified Wednesday that he’s not in favor of scaling back the recent changes to the sex-offender law, which focused on violent sexual predators. But, he said, based upon talks with some colleagues, an analysis might be sought to determine if reforms are needed regarding how people get put on the sex-offender list or if the state needs to “encourage different prosecutorial conduct.”

Assistant State Attorney Anthony Dafonseca, who initially sought 15 years for Caballero, said the sentence holds Caballero accountable for the publicly seen sexual act as well as for his past actions.

“If you think about 2:30 in the afternoon on a crowded beach,” Dafonseca told reporters after the sentencing. “It takes a certain type of person to do that in front of children a few feet away.”

Rep. Katie Edwards, a Plantation Democrat who discussed the Manatee County case with Gaetz during this spring’s legislative session, said Wednesday that there may be better ways to deal with people such as Caballero and Alvarez.

“I think the average Floridians says, ‘We don’t want people having sex in public places,’ ” Edwards said. “But it’s the imposition of the sex-offender’s status, and especially the jail time. I think that there are better ways to deal with it, and that is something we should take up as a policy measure.”

Gaetz, on the air, noted that Florida’s sex-offender law was toughened after the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported in 2013 that nearly 600 sexual predators had been released only to be convicted of new sex offenses —including more than 460 child molestations, 121 rapes and 14 murders.

“Certainly that 2½-year sentence seems a bit punitive given the nature of that offense,” Gaetz told radio host Michael Smerconish. “But in Florida, I think an important context for your listeners is that we’ve had a series of very tragic outcomes.”

Gaetz’ father, Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, declared several times the 2014 legislation would make the state “scorched earth” for sexually violent predators.

PANAMA CITY — Resident Crystal McCauley has posted signs around Lake Caroline, warning against stealing ducks and geese.

“The ducks and geese are being closely monitored by 24-hour surveillance. Anyone observed attempting to remove ducks or geese from the area will be turned over the authorities for prosecution,” the sign reads.

McCauley believes someone, possibly a trapper working for a livestock company, sneaking up to the ducks late at night, enveloping them in a net and taking them away. Her evidence is that the Peking ducks, white ducks with orange bills, have been depleted to zero and the muscovy ducks, featuring a red bumpy hood around their bills, have had their numbers dropped to about five.

McCauley has lived around the lake for several years and said the population dip could not be caused by a natural predator, although she has observed a small alligator and snapping turtles in the lake.

However, she has not seen a thief.

“It’s been all of a sudden,” she said.

The signs are a bluff; there are no cameras, or at least that was the case. McCauley has already reached out to authorities and has been told there is nothing they can do. However, residents can still maintain property rights if they do observe ducks being taken from their property.

“I know people are reading them,” McCauley said. “They are a last ditch effort.”

On Friday, she said she is investigating getting cameras, and talking with her neighbors to try to catch duck thieves on private property

Florida Fish and Wildlife rules, posted on its website, state that a private property owner, as much of the area around the lake is private property according to City Manager Jeff Brown, can hire a trapper to catch nuisance birds – which can include animals that cause an annoyance under or upon a building or cause, or are about to cause, property damage.

Native waterfall, wood ducks for example, are protected by the FWC. Muscovy ducks are listed as a nuisance species because of their tendency to repopulate very quickly. The FWC maintains a list including contact information for 73 different wildlife trappers that work in Bay County on its website.

FWC Northwest Office Public Informaion officer Bekah Nelson said the FWC has not removed ducks from the lake or hired trappers to do so.

McCauley plans to reach out to the Panama City Council to find out if there can be anything to be done to restrict people from taking ducks. There are other residents around Lake Caroline concerned about the declining duck population. Neighbor Sonja Davies, who has lived at Lake Caroline since 1986, was ready to feed the ducks on Tuesday.

“Everybody loves them,” Davies said.

Panama City Leisure Services Director Keith Baker said he has not received nuisance complaints at Lake Caroline but at other locations the city has hired trappers to remove ducks and place them in a different locations because of overpopulation.

“I don’t know who would steal ducks,” Brown said.

Panama City Commissioner Mike Nichols said the city might run into jurisdictional problems if it pursued an ordinance about waterfowl trapping. He added that he does not think there is a problem at Lake Caroline.

“They’re not our ducks; they’re wild animals,” Nichols said. “I don’t think we as a city could govern that.”

PARKER — Narcotics officers have raided what they say could be the county’s main front for crack cocaine manufacturing after a two-week-long investigation, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday.

Three men were arrested during the bust at a Parker home, and investigators also guns, more than $80,000 in drugs and about $53,000 in cash, BCSO reported.

BCSO officials said the town house at 145 Cheri Lane in Parker seemed to be used solely for crack production. The downfall of the operation could be the collapse of the main source for crack in the county, according to BCSO Capt. Faith Bell.

“I hope we have severed the head of the snake,” said Bell, who specializes in drug-related investigations. “With all the other addictive drugs on the streets of Bay County, the last thing we need is crack to make a comeback.”

The BCSO Special Investigations narcotics unit, with the assistance of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), had ratcheted up their investigation into the home over the past couple of weeks before obtaining a search warrant Friday night, according to a news release. About two months before then, however, officers began getting tips about a resurgence of crack cocaine in the area, Bell said.

“We started hearing a lot about crack, and at this point any amount is a lot,” she said. “Ten or 20 years ago, it would’ve been normal for those tips. For us to get any tips, we knew someone was manufacturing crack in Bay County.”

Investigators narrowed their sights on the residence rented to Julian Parker, 41, and Julius Gary, 49. When officers raided the home, they found nearly a kilo of cocaine, scales, quality packaging materials, two handguns and about $53,000 in cash. Other than some kitchenware for cooking the cocaine down to crack, no signs — like beds or couches — demonstrated the home was lived in.

Jermaine Hicks, 31, of 310 N. Cleveland Ave., also was arrested at the home.

Parker was charged with trafficking in cocaine, manufacture of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon; Gary was charged with trafficking in cocaine; and Hicks was charged with possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, BCSO reported.

Crack was a bane to law enforcement in Bay County beginning in the mid -1980s, Bell said. Up until recently, when cheaper narcotics like methamphetamine and prescription pills came into prevalence, crack was the frontrunner of dangerous drugs and was readily available throughout Florida.

Crack was abundant enough in the beginning that producers cooked up “pancake”-sized portions. But as time passed, dealers found that moving product was easier in “cookie”-sized potions, similar to the finished products found at the Cheri Lane home.

Bell said the types of pots used at the home also demonstrated two distinct regional styles of crack production. One set of measuring cups appeared to be stylistically from east of Bay County, while a set of camp cups were notoriously associated with the Albany, Georgia, area, she said.

Officials said they expect more arrests to come as a result of Friday’s raid.

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — A chance stop to pick up supplies for a new family pet led to a Chipley police officer and his wife saving the life of an infant.

Officer Tyler Brannon and his wife, Amanda, had just returned from picking up a puppy and stopped at the Tractor Supply store in DeFuniak Springs around 2:30 p.m. Saturday to purchase dog food and a collar. The couple was making their way toward the store entrance when they heard an alarming noise.

“We immediately looked at each other when we heard the sound,” Officer Brannon said. “At first, it sort of sounded like a screaming cat, and I thought, ‘I hope that’s not a baby,’ because I couldn’t hearing any vehicles running. We began looking in vehicles, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from.”

Soon, Amanda Brannon made an unsettling discovery.

“My wife looked in a van and immediately started crying,” Officer Brannon said.

Inside the van, which had the windows rolled up, the Brannons found a baby girl strapped into her seat.

“Luckily, the door was unlocked; otherwise, I would have busted a window,” he said. “She was soaked as though I had pulled her out of a swimming pool and was showing signs of dehydration.”

The couple called 911, and emergency responders arrived, who quickly discovered a baby sitter had left the child in a van for about 10 to 15 minutes.

“Even after EMS and law enforcement got here, the baby sitter still hadn’t walked out of the store,” Officer Brannon said. “Another 10 minutes in that van, and it could have been fatal.”

With temperatures in the 90s and the heat index hovering around 106, the National Weather Service had issued a heat advisory earlier Saturday.

The infant, who police said was about 10 months old, was transported to an area hospital for evaluation but later released to her mother, according to DeFuniak Springs Police. No charges were filed against the baby sitter because police determined she and a friend accidentally left the baby behind when they went shopping, DeFuniak Police reported.

The Brannons, who have a 7-month-old daughter, say they simply can’t understand how such conditions can be ignored.

“I was really just angry,” Officer Brannon said. “I don’t understand how anyone can forget a child. I’m just glad we found her.”

The Brannons said they are naming their new puppy in the baby’s honor.

Northwest Florida Daily News Writer Tom McLaughlin contributed to this report.

MARIANNA — Officers now have two large bags of high-grade marijuana and 300 imitation prescription pills in their possession and one man in custody after a traffic stop, according to a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office news release.

JCSO reported officers were conducting a traffic stop on a gold Mercury car Monday for an equipment violation. Casey Andrew Speers, of Alford, was inside the car allegedly along with two large bags of high-grade marijuana, scales, bags, pipes and 300 imitation imitation prescription pills, JCSO reported.

Officials said several items associated with the packaging and distribution of narcotics were located in the car, which lead to search for the concealed bags of marijuana. They also allegedly found the 300 white, oblong pills in a bag and packaged as prescription pain pills, officers said.

Speers faces charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of an imitation controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.