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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.
Lakeland Man Convicted of Multiple Counts of Sexual Battery
/in SAO10 Blog/by Jamie OwensA Polk County Jury convicted John Aurand of two counts of sexual battery, two counts of lewd molestation, five counts of promoting sexual performance of a child and thirteen counts of child pornography. John Aurand faces life in prison when sentenced on April 10th. State Attorney Brian Haas thanks Assistant State Attorney’s Ashley McCarthy, Seth […]
Cold Case Murder Prosecution Leads to Four Life Sentences for Lakeland Man
/in SAO10 Blog/by Jamie OwensDuring the early morning hours of September 4th, 1981, Joseph Mills, broke into the bedroom window of Linda Slaton. Linda, 31, and her two young sons were sleeping in the residence. After sexually assaulting and murdering her, Mills escaped through the same window he entered. For the next four decades, the Lakeland Police worked to […]
State Attorney Brian Haas meets with Lakeland Police Chief Ruben Garcia
/in SAO10 Blog/by Jamie OwensState Attorney Brian Haas met with Lakeland Police Chief Ruben Garcia and members of the Lakeland Police Department this week to discuss the partnership between the two agencies. These meetings take place every few months to keep lines of communication open between LPD and SAO staff. We are grateful for the hard work and dedication […]
State Attorney Brian Haas Administers oath for Polk Police Chiefs Association Annual Banquet
/in SAO10 Blog/by Jamie OwensState Attorney Brian Haas administered the oath of office for the new Officers and Directors of the Polk Police Chiefs Association. Lakeland Police Chief Ruben Garcia, President, Bartow Police Department Chief Bryan S. Dorman, Vice President and Chris Nelson, Executive Director for the State Attorney’s Office will serve as Secretary/Treasurer of the Polk Police Chiefs […]
Lake Placid Man Sentenced to Life in Prison
/in SAO10 Blog/by Jamie OwensRobert Lincoln sexually molested a young girl for many years, beginning when the child was 12 years old. Lincoln used grooming, threats and bribes to molest the child. A Highlands County Jury convicted Lincoln of Lewd Molestation in December. This week, Assistant State Attorney Courtney Lenhart obtained a life sentence for Lincoln from a Highlands […]
Conviction and Life Sentence for Baby Murderer Upheld
/in SAO10 Blog/by Jamie OwensRoy and Ruby Stephens traveled from Indiana to Florida with their family, including a 22-day old infant. Upon their arrival in Lakeland, authorities discovered that the baby had died as a result of starvation. Both Roy and Ruby Stephens were convicted of first-degree murder of the baby and sentenced to life in prison. Roy Stephens […]