Man Escapes Murder Charges, Gets Year On Drug Charge

September 28, 2012

An Escambia County man that escaped a murder charge was sentenced to prison Thursday on a drug charge.

Bryan Andrew Hines was sentenced following a conviction for possession with intent to purchase marijuana. Hines was also originally charged with felony murder for the death of Frederick Ortiz, which occurred at the same time as the drug transaction, but he was acquitted of that crime by the jury.

Hines was sentenced by Judge Joel Boles to 11 months and 30 days in the county jail followed by 24 months probation, and bond was set at $10,000 pending his appeal.

The State Attorney’s Office requested the maximum possible sentence of five years and that he begin to serve his sentence immediately.

At trial, evidence was presented showing that Hines contacted Ortiz to purchase marijuana, and they agreed to meet at a location near Hines’ home. When Ortiz arrived,
Hines got into his vehicle and they discussed the marijuana purchase. A witness testified that during the course of that transaction, another man approached the vehicle and fired a gun.

The witness then ran from the scene.

After several more shots were heard, the witness returned to find Ortiz lying dead in the street with a single gunshot to his torso. Hines was subsequently identified and charged with felony third degree murder after his phone was found inside Ortiz’s vehicle.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News