In the News

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Ladae Franklin was found guilty by a jury of Attempted
Second-Degree Murder and Attempted Manslaughter. The Honorable Mark Borello sentenced Franklin to 32 years in Florida State Prison during a July 13, 2022, hearing.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Carl Steven Mills was found guilty by a jury of Conspiracy to Traffic in Heroin.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Derrick Smith was found guilty by a jury of Conspiracy to Sell, Manufacture, or Deliver a Controlled Substance, Manslaughter, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device in the May 2021 death of a Jacksonville woman.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Tyler Jackson was found guilty by a jury of Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile Delinquent Found to Have Committed a Felony Act.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Henry McKinnon III was found guilty by a jury of First-Degree Murder of Travis James.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a jury unanimously recommended two death sentences for Thomas Bevel, who was previously found guilty of two counts of First-Degree Murder in the killing of 13-year-old Phillip Sims and Garrick Strickland in 2004.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Maayaki Raysor, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

A message to the community from State Attorney Melissa Nelson:

Healing begins with us.

Two years ago, law enforcement from each agency in the Fourth Circuit and community stakeholders signed a historic agreement to expand the use of juvenile civil citations. The results are clear: the smart justice program is working.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Michael Ray Haim, 53, of Waynesville, N.C., was found guilty by a jury of Second-Degree Murder. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled before the Honorable Steven B. Whittington at a later date.