Two local men found guilty in Circuit Court

Justin Oliver incarcerated for burglary with assault

Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Justin Oliver of Monticello, Fla., born May 29, 1988, pled no contest on March 14, 2023, to a charge of Burglary of a Dwelling – Person Assaulted for an offense that occurred on September 18, 2022. He was found guilty by Judge Dawn Caloca-Johnson in Circuit Court at the Jefferson County Courthouse and sentenced to 40 months in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC), with credit for 173 days already served, followed by a period of probation for 36 months. In addition, Oliver is ordered to have no further contact with the victim and to make restitution in the amount of $2,659.
The Punishment Code Scoresheet in this case indicates that this offense was a violation of the terms of the probation that Oliver had received for a May 11, 2022, charge of Criminal Mischief, a third-degree felony carrying a maximum penalty of five years of incarceration. On March 14, 2023, Oliver admitted that he had violated probation and was found guilty by Judge Dawn Caloca-Johnson in Circuit Court at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The probation was revoked and terminated, with a sentence of 173 days in the Jefferson County Jail, with credit for 173 days served.
FDOC records show that Oliver was taken into their custody on March 20, 2023, and he is currently incarcerated at Bay Correctional Facility in Panama City, Fla., with a release date set for Jan. 15, 2026.

Patrick Johnell Jones found guilty of felony battery

Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Patrick Johnell Jones of Monticello, Fla., born Aug. 23, 1977, was arrested on October 29, 2022, when investigation by the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office of a complaint against him revealed an outstanding warrant. He was subsequently charged with Felony Battery. On March 13, 2023, Jones pled no contest to the charge and was found guilty by Judge Dawn Caloca-Johnson in Circuit Court at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
The Criminal Punishment Code Scoresheet indicates Jones has a criminal record with six prior felonies, including sale of controlled substance, possession of controlled substance, lewd or lascivious battery, burglary of a dwelling and tampering with physical evidence. Through the plea bargain, Jones was sentenced to 18 months in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC), with 132 days credit for time served before sentencing. In addition, he was ordered to pay court costs assessed at $1,134.
FDOC records indicate that Jones was received into their custody on March 20, 2023, and he is currently incarcerated at Graceville Correctional and Rehabilitation Center in Graceville, Fla., with a release date set at April 24, 2024.

Felony Verdicts from the 2nd Judicial Circuit

Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Court is in session for Jefferson County felony cases in Florida's 2nd Judicial Circuit typically two mornings a month. Many cases on the dockets for March and April have been continued to May or later. In some, adjudication was withheld, and in others a guilty verdict and sentence was given. Follow front page stories for some cases leading to DOC incarceration. Other recent cases are summarized below.

Lakeita Virgil of Monticello, Fla., born Aug. 19, 1986, had been placed on two years of probation on Aug. 23, 2021, after being found guilty of Driving While License Suspended, Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Officer, Dealing in Stolen Property and False Report. On Dec. 2, 2022, an arrest warrant for Violation of Probation was issued for Virgil related to shoplifting incidents that occurred in November of 2022. Subsequently, Virgil was arrested on Jan. 17, 2023. On March 27, 2023, Virgil admitted to the Violation of Probation charge and was found guilty by Judge Dawn Caloca-Johnson in Circuit Court at the Jefferson County Courthouse. Virgil was sentenced to 70 days in the Jefferson County Jail, with credit for 70 days served. In addition, Virgil's two-year probation was reinstated with prior conditions and modified to Felony Drug Offender Probation, with weekly random urinalysis and a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Virgil was further ordered to have no contact with Walmart and to pay court costs of $645.

Johnny Joseph Day of Monticello, Fla., born Oct. 18, 1978, was charged on Oct. 15, 2021, with Driving While License Revoked-Habitual Offender and Leaving Scene of Crash with Damage to Unattended Vehicle. On April 24, 2023, Day entered a plea of no contest to these charges and was found guilty by Judge Dawn Caloca-Johnson in Circuit Court at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The Criminal Punishment Code Scoresheet indicates that Day's prior record includes various misdemeanors in addition to Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell, Driving While License Revoked-Habitual Offender and Felony Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Officer. Day was sentenced on April 24 to serve 90 days in the Jefferson County Jail, with credit for 90 days served. He was placed on Mental Health Probation for 24 months and ordered to pay $1,149 in restitution to the victim as well as court costs of $665.

Shanta Sherrie Foley of Monticello, Fla., born Dec. 3, 1983, was charged on March 8, 2023, with Possession of Controlled Substance (felony) and Possession of Paraphernalia (misdemeanor). On April 24, 2023, Foley entered a plea of no contest to these charges and was found guilty by Judge Dawn Caloca-Johnson in Circuit Court at the Jefferson County Courthouse. Foley has no prior record and was sentenced on April 24 to serve 26 days in the Jefferson County Jail, with credit for 26 days served; placed on 24 months of Drug Offender Probation, with weekly random urinalysis and a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.; and ordered to pay court costs of $665.

Bradley Heath Scott of Monticello, Fla., born Oct. 18, 1988, was charged on Sept. 1, 2022, with Battery and Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon. On April 24, 2023, Scott entered a plea of no contest to these charges and was found guilty by Judge Dawn Caloca-Johnson in Circuit Court at the Jefferson County Courthouse. Scott was sentenced to serve 236 days in the Jefferson County Jail, with credit for 236 days served; placed on Mental Health Probation for 24 months; and ordered to have no contact with the two victims. Scott admitted that these charges constituted a Violation of Probation for a Sept. 15, 2018, charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. On April 24, 2023, Judge Caloca-Johnson found Scott guilty of Violation of Probation; sentenced him to serve 215 days in the Jefferson County Jail, with credit for 215 days served; placed him on a new 24-month period of Mental Health Probation; and ordered him to pay $1,135 in court costs. The two sentences will run concurrently.

Antoine Lamont Watson of Monticello, Fla., born Feb. 22, 1979, had been placed on Drug Offender Probation on May 13, 2022, for a term of two years for Sale of a Controlled Substance. On March 27, 2023, admitted that he had violated this probation and was found guilty of Violation of Probation by Judge Dawn Caloca-Johnson in Circuit Court at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The Criminal Punishment Scoresheet indicates additional offenses of felony Possession of Controlled Substance and misdemeanor Possession of Paraphernalia as well as prior record for Felony Battery and various misdemeanors. Watson's probation was revoked and terminated, he was sentenced to one year and one day in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC), with credit for 235 days already served, and he was assessed court costs of $665. FDOC records indicate that Watson was received into their custody on April 4, 2023, and is currently incarcerated at the minimum security Northwest Florida Reception Center in Chipley, Fla., with a release date set for Aug. 5, 2023.