The Office of the State Attorney is committed to transparency and responds to all records requests in a timely manner. If you wish to make a request, you can do so by contacting Paul Sessions, custodian of Public Records, at (863) 534-4844 or by clicking the button to submit a request.
Recent Press Releases
Please be advised that Florida has a broad Public Records law and all e-mail correspondence to this office or anyone employed here may be subject to disclosure. Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this agency. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
Dundee Man Convicted of Second-Degree Murder
/in SAO10 Blog /by Jamie OwensMark Callahan, 28, was convicted of Second-Degree Murder with a Firearm and Tampering with Physical Evidence. Callahan was in a verbal altercation with the victim at the Monticello Motel in Dundee when he pulled out a firearm and shot the victim; who was later declared deceased. Callahan then fled the scene and tried getting rid […]
Sebring Man Sentenced to 45 Years Florida State Prison
/in SAO10 Blog /by Jamie OwensTimothy Hero, 54, sexually battered a vulnerable young girl in a Winn Dixie bathroom while she was grocery shopping. Hero, was an employee at the store when the incident occurred. Assistant State Attorney Norda Swaby obtained a 45-year prison sentence for Hero from a Highlands County Judge. State Attorney Brian Haas thanks ASA Swaby and […]
Enrollment Ends May 16th for Annual SAO Youth Mock Trial
/in SAO10 Blog /by Jamie OwensThe State Attorney’s Office is now accepting applications for their Annual Youth Mock Trial. The four-day program will take place June 6th through June 9th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow. This program gives students going in to the 11th and 12th grade an opportunity to work with […]
Polk County School Bus Attendant, Juanita Tappin, Sentenced to 30 Months Prison
/in SAO10 Blog /by Jamie OwensSchool bus attendant, Juanita Tappin, physically and verbally abused several special needs students while they were taken to and from school. On multiple occasions, video surveillance shows Tappin hitting the children on their head, face, and hands and using different objects to abuse them. No plea agreement was made and therefore this case was decided […]
Sebring Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison
/in SAO10 Blog /by Jamie OwensDaniel Meekins was sentenced by a Highlands County Circuit Judge on Friday, March 25th to 30 years in prison followed by 30 years of Probation for Lewd Molestation. Meekins sexually abused a child on multiple occasions and tried to flee the country before Sgt. DeShazo, of the Sebring Police Department, located him packing a van […]
Lakeland Man Convicted and Sentenced to Life in Prison
/in SAO10 Blog /by Jamie OwensA Circuit Judge sentenced Stevin Smith to Life in prison after being found guilty by a Polk County Jury of Attempted Armed Kidnapping and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Smith has an extensive criminal record for Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Domestic Battery Strangulation, Robbery with a Weapon, Burglary of a Structure, Robbery, […]