In the News

More than 150 members of the State Attorney’s Office spent lunch Tuesday taking part in an officewide Thanksgiving pot luck.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces today that Akeen Kadoni Paul, 22, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of Burglary to a Dwelling and Resisting An Officer Without Violence.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces today that Terrence Keith Payne, 44, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of Armed Sexual Battery. Payne now faces a maximum of Life in Florida State Prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Honorable Steven B. Whittington the week of Nov. 6, 2017.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson today announces that the Honorable Angela M. Cox sentenced Chad Allen Grubb, 41, of Saint Augustine to 25 years in Florida State Prison for Carjacking (Armed with a Deadly Weapon) and Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer; and 15 years in Florida State Prison for Aggravated Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer. The sentences are concurrent.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson today announces that the Honorable Russell L. Healey sentenced Lorenzo Carol Alston, 24, of Jacksonville, to Life in Florida State Prison for Second-Degree Murder.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Tony Gerald Ellison, 52, of Jacksonville, pleaded guilty to two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation. Pursuant to the plea to the judge, Ellison now faces a maximum of 30 years in prison with a 25-year mandatory minimum sentence in Florida State Prison followed by sex offender probation for life. Ellison will be sentenced the week of Nov. 27, 2017.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces today that Kevin Ryan Rojas, 21, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of Attempted First-Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer, Attempted Manslaughter, two counts of Aggravated Assault, Grand Theft Auto, and Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer. Rojas now faces a mandatory sentence of Life in Florida State Prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Honorable James H. Daniel during the week of Nov. 27, 2017.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces today that Michael Keith Googins, 48, of Nassau County, was found guilty by a jury of Sale or Delivery of Oxycodone.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Victor Vaughn Reed, 51, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of three counts of Sexual Battery. Reed now faces a maximum of Life in Florida State Prison. A sentencing hearing has yet to be set.

As Northeast Florida continues to rebuild and regroup following Hurricane Irma, law enforcement in Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties are partnering with the Fourth Circuit State Attorney’s Office to enhance efforts to arrest and prosecute individuals who used the storm as a backdrop to commit crimes of opportunity.