PANAMA CITY — Jurors have found a Panama City Beach man guilty of breaking into a home and car theft, and he could face up to 15 years in prison for the crime, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
Darrin Lee Carmichael, 28, was convicted Wednesday of burglarizing a Panama City Beach home and stealing a truck. Assistant State Attorney Barbara Beasley told jurors in her closing argument at the end of the one-day trial that Carmichael, of Panama City Beach, entered the residence of Robert Crutchfield the morning of Aug. 10 when no one was home.
However, Carmichael took the keys to Crutchfield’s Ford F-150 and left after being confronted by the homeowners. Later that day, Crutchfield saw Carmichael drive past his house in the truck. Crutchfield and a friend were able to follow the truck and call deputies to make the arrest.
Carmichael was found guilty as charged of burglary of an occupied dwelling and grand theft auto by jurors. It wasn’t the first time he’d been sentenced to prison. Carmichael was released from the Department of Corrections on Nov. 30, 2012, after serving time for a 2007 burglary and 2009 drug possession convictions.
Sentencing is March 2.