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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.
State Attorney Haas speaks to Suncoast Crime Prevention Association
/in SAO10 Blog /by john chamblissState Attorney Brian Haas addressed officers and deputies from the Suncoast Crime Prevention Association on Wednesday at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office operations center. The event, hosted by Sheriff Grady Judd, featured Mr. Haas discussing ways to prevent scams from occurring. “We have to do everything we can to warn people ahead of time,” Mr. […]
Charges filed against Joseph and Courtney Irby
/in SAO10 Blog /by Jon McMillanState Attorney Brian Haas discussed on Wednesday filing charges against both Joseph and Courtney Irby. Joseph Irby, 35, faces one felony charge of aggravated battery. Courtney Irby, 32, has been charged with misdemeanor trespassing. State Attorney Brian Haas Press Conference
JURY VERDICT: Michael James Smith convicted of lewd or lascivious battery
/in SAO10 Blog /by Jon McMillanState Attorney Brian Haas announced the conviction of Michael James Smith of lewd or lascivious battery: engaging in sex act with a victim 12-16 years of age. Smith was convicted by a Polk County Jury after deliberating for just under two hours. Smith who was twenty-five (25) years of age at the time of the […]
Polk County Jury Convicts Gail Nichols on four felony counts of cruelty to animals
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonState Attorney Brian Haas announced the conviction of Gail Nichols on four felony counts of cruelty to animals. Nichols was convicted by a Polk County Jury after nearly four hours of deliberations. This case was even more disturbing as Nichols is licensed in the State of Florida as a veterinarian. The charges stemmed from an […]
Highlands County Jury Convicts Washington of First Degree Murder
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonState Attorney Brian Haas announced the conviction of Freddie Washington for first degree murder with a firearm, robbery, aggravated assault and tampering with physical evidence. Washington was convicted by a Highlands County Jury in the October 9, 2016, murder of Aaron Hankerson. The jury took four and a half hours of deliberations to reach the […]
JURY VERDICT: Auburndale man guilty of raping girl, recording the act
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonGerard Dixon raped a 5-year-old girl and recorded the entire incident on his cell phone. After about two hours of deliberation on May 15, a jury convicted Dixon of two counts of sexual battery on a victim less than 12. He is facing mandatory life and will be sentenced on June 28. Assistant State Attorney […]