Congratulations to our newly sworn Assistant State Attorneys. We are thrilled to have them be a part of the #SAO10 team. We would like to welcome Nathan Lehman and Kayla Valle who were recently sworn in by State Attorney Brian Haas.
State Attorney’s Office Accepting Applications for 2024 Citizens Academy
State Attorney Brian Haas
The State Attorney’s Office is accepting applications for the 2024 Citizens Academy.
The six-week program will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. each Tuesday starting September 10th in the Bartow courthouse. The Academy gives residents in the 10th Circuit an opportunity to learn more about the criminal justice system. Citizens will hear from some of the top prosecutors in the circuit about how they develop cases then take them to trial.
Please fill out and complete the application below.
Citizens Academy Application 2024
Completed application should be emailed to communications10@sao10.com or returned to:
ATTN: Administration
The State Attorney’s Office
255 N Broadway Ave., Second Floor
Bartow, FL, 33831
Polk County Man Who Fled to Atlanta after Crime Spree Convicted of First Degree Murder
On June 19, 2024, Taiwan Blandin was convicted of First Degree Murder, Attempted Sexual Battery, Robbery, Arson, Animal Cruelty and other charges for his October 1, 2019 crime rampage that left an 80 year old Frostproof woman dead in her home.
Following the crime spree, a nationwide man hunt ensued, with Blandin finally being apprehended two weeks later in Atlanta.
Taiwan Blandin was sentenced to Life in Prison by Senior Circuit Judge Dennis Maloney.
State Attorney Brian Haas thanks the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant State Attorney Ralph Guerra for their hard work and dedication in bringing Taiwan Blandin to justice.
State Attorney’s Office Youth Mock Trial Program
The State Attorney’s Office is now accepting applications for their Annual Youth Mock Trial.
The four-day program will take place June 17th through June 20th 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 prosecutors from the State Attorney’s Office and learn how a criminal case makes its way through the criminal justice system. Students will attend court hearings and study current cases to see how the law is applied.
Please fill out the application attached and submit to communications10@sao10.com or mail to the Polk County Courthouse. Deadline to apply is June 10th, 2024.