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.
State Attorney’s statement regarding Sebring shooting
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonState Attorney Brian Haas stood alongside officials in Highlands County this morning to address the media regarding the horrific shooting that claimed the lives of five people in Sebring Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Haas identified two main priorities: The first is to build the best case possible to ensure prosecution that ends in a successful result […]
SENTENCING UPDATE: Habitual offender gets 20 years after leading cops on high-speed chase
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonAfter officers attempted to stop Daniel Pelham for running a stop sign, he led them on a high-speed chase for nearly an hour. Pelham, who is a prison releasee reoffender and a habitual felony offender, was convicted in December of fleeing to elude involving high speed and no valid driver’s license. On Jan. 11, he […]
SENTENCING UPDATE: Janitor receives 15 years for touching student inappropriately
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonJose Baez-Ortiz was sentenced to 15 years in prison Friday for putting his hand up the skirt of a 6-year-old girl. Prior to the sentence being handed down, Baez-Ortiz tearfully asked Judge Sites for leniency. Sites gave Baez-Ortiz the maximum sentence of 15 years, adding that the lewd conduct occurred in a school and that […]
State Attorney Brian Haas announces Inaugural Citizens Academy
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonState Attorney Brian Haas announced Friday that he will be launching the Inaugural State Attorney’s Citizens Academy. “Understanding the criminal justice system is vital, as it plays an important role in all of our lives. This nine-week program was designed to give citizens in our circuit a behind-the-scenes look at the criminal justice system and […]
JURY VERDICT: Lake Wales woman convicted of trafficking meth, receives 20 years
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonKaren Hughes purchased of a kilogram of methamphetamine in a reverse sting and admitted she’d done it before. After about 20 minutes of deliberation, a jury found Hughes guilty Thursday of trafficking in amphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Following the verdict, Hughes was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Hughes has been previously convicted […]
SENTENCING UPDATE: Lakeland man sentenced to 25 years for attempted murder
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonRobert Van Den Bosch received 25 years in prison after he followed through on threats to shoot residents in his neighborhood who were being loud. A jury found Van Den Bosch guilty Nov. 8 of attempted second-degree murder with discharge of a firearm, great bodily harm, and resisting officers without violence. He was sentenced Dec. […]