Escambia Man Pleads Guilty To Possession Unregistered Machine Gun
December 18, 2025
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for possession of an unregistered machine gun.
Prashant M. Jenkins Jr., 24, previously entered a guilty plea in federal court.
Court documents state that on October 30, 2024, law enforcement officers found and seized from Jenkins’ residence an AR-style machine gun conversion device, a Glock pistol with a loaded magazine, a loaded AR-15 magazine, approximately 500 grams of marijuana, and other suspected drug trafficking paraphernalia. The conversion device, considered a machine gun under federal law, was not marked with a serial number and was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the excellent work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal ATF agents to make our community safer by getting this dangerous individual off the streets. My office remains fully committed to aggressively prosecuting those who illegally manufacture and possess these dangerous weapons, fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by targeting violent criminals with the full force of the law.”
Jenkins faced up to 10 years’ in prison and will be prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
Tate Junior Mykamia Padgett Commits To D1 ASU Softball
December 18, 2025
Tate High School pitcher and infielder Mykamia Padgett, a junior, has committed to play softball for the NCAA Division I Alabama State University Hornets in Montgomery. Graphic for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Convicted Cantonment Felon Sentenced On Federal Armed Drug Distribution Charges
December 17, 2025
A convicted Escambia County felon has been sentenced to federal prison on armed drug distribution charges.
Carlton DeWight Shoemaker, age 51 of Carver Street, previously pleaded guilty in federal court to three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
He was sentenced to 106 months in federal prison followed by three years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Kent Wetherell II. He had faced up to life in prison.
Using an FDLE documented criminal informant, ATF purchased crack cocaine and methamphetamine on two occasions from Shoemaker in a hotel room , according to federal court documents, and a semi-automatic handgun was presented in the room.
When a search warrant was later served, investigators reported finding 4.5 grams of crack cocaine, 9.5 grams of powder cocaine, three ounces of marijuana pre-packaged for sale, drug paraphernalia, and two firearms with ammunition.
Shoemaker is a convicted felon and has multiple prior convictions, including burglary, grand theft, possession of cocaine, and grand theft of a firearm.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and ATF.
Sex Offender, 84, Gets 30 Years For Viewing Porn On Probation
December 17, 2025
An 84-year old sex offender has been sentenced to three decades in prison for violating his probation.
Carl Wayne Castleberry was sentenced on Tuesday to 30 years in state prison by Circuit Judge John Miller.
Castleberry was on probation for two counts of lewd or lascivious conduct for abusing a young female relative. In September 2019, he pled guilty and was sentenced to 50 months in state prison to be followed by 25 years of sex offender probation. He was released from prison in August of 2022.
By October of 2025, his probation officer discovered that Castleberry had been viewing pornography in violation of his probation conditions, according to prosecutors.
Santa Claus To Visit The Molino Library On Thursday
December 17, 2025
Santa Claus will visit the Molino Library on Thursday.
Santa will hear Christmas wishes, and parents are invited to use their phone or bring a camera for photos. He will be at the library at 4:30 p.m.
The Molino Library is at 6450A Highway 95A, in the Molino Community Center.
Pictured: Santa Claus during a recent visit to the Century Library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Students Donate To Area Nursing Home Residents
December 17, 2025
Bratt Elementary School students collected items for area nursing home residents.
The donations—including socks, lip balms, gloves, tissues, and lotions—were delivered Tuesday afternoon.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tax Collector’s MILO, OneBlood, Help A Neighbor At Thursday Walnut Hill Community Outreach
December 17, 2025
A community outreach event will take place Thursday in Walnut Hill with the Escambia County Tax Collector’s Mobile Identification and Licensing Office (MILO), blood donations with the Big Red Bus, and a donations will be accepted to help neighbors.
MILO Tax Collector Services
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Mobile Identification and Licensing Office (MILO) will be at the Walnut Hill Community Center on Thursday, December 18, from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
MILO offers a convenient way for residents to access essential tax collector services, including:
- Driver License Services: Renewals, replacements, out-of-state license conversions/reciprocations, and address/name changes.
- Identification Cards: First-time issuance and renewals.
- Vehicle Services: Registration renewals and replacements, title transfers, and parking placards.
- Tax Payments: Property tax payments.
- Business Tax Receipts: Applications and renewals.
- Certified Driver Transcripts
Written and driving tests are not available at the MILO unit.
Help A Neighbor
From 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., new socks and new underwear in original packaging will be accepted, along with new blankets with tags attached to help needy individuals in the community.
Blood Donations
OneBlood’s Big Red Bus will be onsite at the community center from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Donors will receive a sweatshirt and a $20 egift card.
Location
The Walnut Hill Community Center is located at 7850 Highway 97, just north of the fire department and Ernest Ward Middle School.
Escambia County Warning Contractors About License Payment Scam
December 17, 2025
The Escambia County Building Services Department has received reports of fraudulent emails claiming to represent Building Services, requesting immediate payment in order to receive an electrical license or other county license.
The county said do not respond to these fraudulent messages, pay the attached invoices, or click any links. These emails are not legitimate and are not associated with Escambia County Building Services.
Escambia County Building Services will never ask for payment via an email link, credit card, or wire transfer. Escambia County only accepts contractor license payments via cash or check.
Man’s Body Found Not Far From Jim Allen Elementary School
December 16, 2025
An adult male was found deceased Monday afternoon in a wooded area of Eden Lane and Highway 95A, across the railroad tracks from Jim Allen Elementary School.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s office, the man died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Foul play was not suspected.
The investigation is continuing by the ECSO and the District 1 Medical Examiner’s Office.
Further details have not yet been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Council Votes To Name Justin Hetrick As Permanent Police Chief
December 16, 2025
The Town of Flomaton has hired a new police chief.
The town council voted unanimously during a Monday night special meeting to promote interim Chief Justin Hetrick to Flomaton police chief.
Hetrick said transparency and community engagement will be crucial to his administration with the department, which has seven certified officers.
After serving since May 2024, Dereck Lowry resigned as police chief on December 5. On December 8, the council stopped short of promoting then-captain Hetrick as police chief at Mayor Arthur Odom’s recommendation.The council instead appointed Hetrick as interim chief and set the Monday, December 15 special meeting to interview Hetrick.
For more photos from Monday night’s meeting, click here.
Monday night, only council members Roger Adkinson and Kay Wagner asked Hetrick any questions before the vote.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
.