FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 16, 2007

State Attorney Steve Meadows announces the conviction, in Bay County Circuit Court, of Matthew John Dufour, on a charge of Aggravated Battery.

The two males, four females jury deliberated just five minutes before finding Dufour, WM, DOB: 6-14-1983, 13902 Milcole Road, Panama City Beach, guilty in the April 16, 2007, incident. During the trial, Assistant State Attorney Timothy Register presented evidence that Dufour kicked and hit Jeffrey Barbe in the head causing great bodily harm–including a broken jaw.

The State will seek a Habitual Violent Felony Offender (HVFO) designation at the sentencing, set for November 13th. Should the Court find Dufour to be a HVFO; he will face a maximum of 30 years in prison with a minimum mandatory 10 years.

Dufour also faces a violation of probation hearing, also on November 13th, for charges of Aggravated Battery, two counts of Burglary, Grand Theft, and Felony Battery.