Tom Lewis

News Director at WMBB-TV (Panama City, FL)

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Articles

Panama City man arrested on lewd and lascivious charges

4 days ago | mypanhandle.com | Tom Lewis |Delaney Vega

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – A Panama City man is in the Bay County Jail facing child sex charges. Bay County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 41-year-old Tarus Denard Giles Monday evening. Police said Giles molested and groped two girls, ages 13 and nine. The activity allegedly happened since the beginning of 2025. He is charged with one count each of lewd and lascivious molestation and lewd or lascivious exhibition of a child under 12. He’s in the Bay County Jail, held on a $200,000 bond.
Governor DeSantis appoints new members to the St. Joe Port authority

6 days ago | mypanhandle.com | Tom Lewis |Delaney Vega

GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Port St. Joe port authority has three new board members. Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed new members of Jessica Rish and Zachary Childs, along with Christian Johnson, and the reappointment of Guerry Madgison. Rish and Childs are both involved in real estate. Johnson is a partner in several food and beverage businesses. Madgison is retired from the financial field.
Panama City man arrested for child pornography offenses

1 week ago | mypanhandle.com | Tom Lewis |Delaney Vega

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Bay County Sheriff’s investigators have arrested a Panama City man on child pornography charges. 44-year-old Raymond Lee Jennings III allegedly engaged in sharing and discussing child pornography on social media sites, Snapchat, Telegram, Session and Reddit. Investigators seized Jennings’ phone and said they found enough evidence to charge him with promoting the sexual performance of a child and possession of obscene material depicting child sexual conduct.
Edgewater swimmer sparks concern for fellow beach-goers

1 week ago | mypanhandle.com | Tom Lewis |Delaney Vega

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – Yellow flags were flying in Panama City Beach on Monday, June 16, but that’s no guarantee of a quiet day for first responders. At the Edgewater beaches, a man swimming in the Gulf had passed the second sandbar. Viewers saw that he was swimming strenuously, but not covering much territory. This immediately sparked concerns from fellow beach-goers.
A new Jackson County business approved for development agreement extension

2 weeks ago | mypanhandle.com | Tom Lewis |Delaney Vega

by: Tom Lewis, Delaney Vega Posted: Jun 10, 2025 / 04:00 PM CDT Updated: Jun 10, 2025 / 06:19 PM CDT JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Jackson County Commissioners approved a development agreement extension for a new business on Highway 231. The business is called Southern Grape Company, LLC.
Jackson County hires new county administrator

2 weeks ago | mypanhandle.com | Tom Lewis |Delaney Vega

JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Jackson County has a new County Administrator. County commissioners agreed on an employment agreement for Jim Dean on Tuesday, June 10, and Dean said he has accepted it. He’ll receive $125,000 a year, plus $500 per month in vehicle allowance. Dean replaces Wilanne Daniels, who resigned from the position in early May 2025. He’s the former Marianna City Manager, who had just become a Marianna City Commissioner when the county approached him for the administrator’s job.
Man arrested for sex crimes against minors in Bay County

2 weeks ago | mypanhandle.com | Tom Lewis |Delaney Vega

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A Southport man is facing charges for alleged sex crimes against children. According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrested 37-year-old James Reginald Griner from Southport last Friday, June 6. Authorities charged the Southport man with two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior or molestation of a child less than 12, and five counts of sexual assault and sex battery on a child less than 12.
Panama City man arrested on child cruelty charges

2 weeks ago | mypanhandle.com | Tom Lewis |Delaney Vega

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A Panama City man was arrested on several charges of child cruelty on Saturday, June 7. According to Panama City Police, authorities arrested 48-year-old Miguel Garcia-Tolentino for child cruelty by promoting sexual performance by child, possession of child porn and obscene material, kidnapping or false-imprisonment of a child under 13 and lewd and lascivious battery or molestation on a child less than 12.
4 Gulf World dolphins adjust to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, 7 still await relocation

3 weeks ago | mypanhandle.com | Tom Lewis

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – On Wednesday, June 4, News 13 broke the story about the four Gulf World Marine Park dolphins being relocated to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Crews arrived at Gulf World around 11 p.m. Tuesday, loaded up the animals and headed south. They arrived in Clearwater around 11 a.m. E.T. Wednesday morning. All the rough-toothed female dolphins appeared to immediately take to their new surroundings.
Panhandle medical business owners facing charges for false insurance billings

3 weeks ago | mypanhandle.com | Melanie Mitchell |Tom Lewis

FLORIDA (WMBB) – The owners of a Panhandle medical business are facing charges involving false insurance billings. The U.S. attorney for North Florida has filed a complaint accusing Ruben and Lorrie Laurel of billing the federal government for services they did not provide to patients. Ruben and Lorrie Laurel own and operate Chipley Physical Therapy in Chipley and Bonifay. Lorrie Laurel also owns and operates Absolute Physical & Aquatic Therapy in Marianna.