OFFICE OF STATE ATTORNEY GINGER BOWDEN MADDEN FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA

February 9, 2021

PRESS RELEASE

State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden announces that Purnell Untonio Jones plead and was sentenced by the Honorable Kelvin Wells to 15 years in prison for Trafficking in Heroin, Possession of Oxycodone, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, two counts of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Giving a False Name. This 15-year sentence is a minimum-mandatory prison sentence.

The Defendant was arrested as part of a joint investigation between the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Walton County Sheriff’s Office. As part of this investigation, surveillance was conducted on suspected drug traffickers in Okaloosa and Walton County. That work resulted in Jones being identified as someone involved in the distribution of narcotics and he was detained by Walton County deputies and investigators outside a rented cabin in Miramar Beach on October 9, 2019. When detained, he provided a false name to the officers and was asked to remain outside while a search warrant was obtained for his cabin. During the time the search warrant was being prepared, Jones suddenly stood, kicked his chair into a deputy guarding him, and ran back to his cabin. With deputies and investigators in pursuit, he managed to enter his cabin and tried to slam the door. An investigator was able to get his hand in the way to prevent the door from fully closing, but suffered injuries from having the door slammed on his hand. Together, the officers were able to force Jones away from the door and push it open. Jones grabbed a duffel bag and attempted to flee out the back of the cabin, but was captured and arrested before he could escape. A search warrant was subsequently obtained for the cabin and approximately 868 grams of Heroin, five Oxycodone pills, and drug paraphernalia including a digital scale was found inside.

The investigation and arrest was conducted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney Matthew Richardson prosecuted the case. Mr. Richardson and the officers of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office were pleased with this sentence and that these dangerous narcotics were taken off the streets. For further information, please contact him at 850-892-8080.

READ MORE ABOUT THE ORIGINAL ARREST HERE.