By Diane M. Moore
A Chipley man accepted a plea deal Monday to serve 50 months in the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) on drug and sex offender charges.
47-year-old Steven Wayne Baxter was arrested in January 2021 on charges of failure to register as sex offender, possession of listed chemicals, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, and possession of paraphernalia. The charges came after a search warrant was served by the Washington County Drug Task Force at a Corbin Road residence.
Baxter entered a plea of no contest on June 6 and was sentenced by Chief Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson Monday, June 13.
Baxter will receive 506 days of credit for time served. Judge Patterson also ordered Baxter’s driver’s license be suspended; however, he did not stipulate a length of time, stating that determination will be left up to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Patterson also recommended Baxter receive drug addiction treatment during his sentence.
KINSLEY COOK 
GARRETT VALCOURT