Charges against Laramore dropped
Floridan Staff Writer
Published: January 7, 2009
Updated: January 7, 2009
All charges have been dropped in the case against a former Jackson County state probation officer who was arrested under suspicion of drug possession and driving under the influence Sept. 24.
According to Bay County court records, all four charges against Ryder Anthony Laramore of Marianna were dropped Dec. 19.
Laramore, 44, was charged with DUI, possession of methamphetamine, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At the time of his arrest Laramore was dressed in women’s apparel, according to police reports.
The day after his arrest, Laramore’s 17-year employment with the state was terminated by way of an “extraordinary dismissal.”
“The circumstances of the arrest and the evidence introduced early on in the case contributed to grounds for an extraordinary dismissal,” Florida Department of Corrections spokesperson Gretl Plessinger said in an earlier interview.
Although Asst. State Attorney Maria Dykes is listed as prosecutor in the case, Bay County court records show that former 14th Judicial State Attorney Steve Meadows called in a “no information” on the case Sept. 30, and a deferred prosecution agreement with Laramore was executed.
The agreement is similar to a pre-trial intervention, which typically spans six to 12 months, according to a Bay County Clerk of Courts representative.
Laramore’s case was dropped in December, when it was determined that he met the agreement’s conditions, according to court records. He was not charged any court fees.
The son of Public Defender Herman Laramore, Ryder Laramore was represented through the case by Chief Assistant Public Defender Doug White, according to Bay County court records.
In a September interview with the Floridan, White said he expected Laramore would be using a private attorney through the rest of the case.
The case was handled in Bay County because that’s where Laramore was apprehended on the night of the incident.
The arresting deputy found Laramore sitting in the driver’s seat of a black Nissan, wearing a wig and dress, with a bottle of vodka below his car seat, according to a Bay County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
According to Bay County law enforcement, Jackson County sheriff’s deputies were first to respond to the incident, which began along U.S. Highway 231.
Emergency dispatch had received several calls in reference to a possible drunk driver running cars off the road.
“These calls are recorded and will be preserved as evidence in this case,” the BSCO incident report said.
Upon arriving at the scene, a Bay County deputy was informed by a Jackson County deputy who was already present that Laramore had swerved off the road several times and almost hit several other cars.
Laramore also swerved off the road onto a sidewalk, the report said.
When the Bay County deputy made contact with Laramore, he was sitting in the driver’s side of the car.
“I noticed that he wearing women’s clothes and a blond wig. I also noticed a bottle of vodka in plain view under the driver’s seat. The bottle was sticking out from under the seat about three-quarters of it’s length,” read the narrative of the incident report.
Laramore told the deputy he had not been drinking, the report said.
“His response to my questions were very slow. He looked at me for about three seconds prior to answering. The defendant appeared to be very disoriented,” the deputy stated in his report. “Although I could not smell any alcohol coming from his person, is suspected that he may have been under the influence of a chemical substance or narcotic. I then asked the defendant to step out of the car. I immediately noticed that his balance was shaken. He was swearing black stockings and no shoes. I then asked the defendant if I could search his car and he stated no. I then asked the defendant to perform some field sobriety evaluations and he agreed.”
According to the incident narrative, Laramore did not successfully complete those evaluations and was placed under arrest for DUI.
Upon searching the vehicle, the arresting officer reported finding “a small bag that contained a plastic vial with white powder which field-tested positive for meth.”
Inside the bag, the officer also found a plastic straw and a small bag of marijuana, according to his report. During a search of the glove box, officers also reportedly found a glass pipe, a pistol and a Probation and Parole badge.
After Laramore was booked into the Bay County Jail, he agreed to provide a breath sample and the results of the test came back negative, according to BSCO.
Laramore was also asked to provide a urine sample, which he declined to give, said BSCO.
“The defendant stated he was not going to take the test until he spoke with a lawyer. I then explained his refusal would result in a suspension of his (driver’s) license. The defendant still refused to take the urine test,” the report narrative said.
Laramore also refused the collection of his saliva for DNA testing, according to the report. The mouthpiece used in the breath test was kept as evidence and was held to be used to collect DNA evidence, the report said.
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Reader Reactions
Well, it seems to be a trend for Ryder to be UNaccountable for his actions in many cases! Like this one and the case of him administering the date-rape drug to young teenage girls & having sex with them while under the influence of the drug. He photographs them nude & in compromising positions then if they do not comply to his wishes, he blackmails them by calling their friends & distributing copies of the photos to their friends & boyfriends. He also places copies on parked vehicles in parking lots of places they go, as well as, at college dorms. Reports are filed with JCSD but actions are null & void! So young girls be cautious of his add in the Floridan for needing help on his satsuma ranch where he states “perferably female”! As for his father, some local business owners, & MOST officials in the JC judicial system, I wonder how they sleep at night with the wrong they do daily to cover up crimes, especially those of murder! The many unsolved murders are due to lack of wanting to solve them, most likely because they have something to do with the JC drug ring (& we all know who runs that)! God is divine & he sees ALL, so even though we as a community may never be able to bring them to justice, GOD WILL!
How do you know Ryder isn’t getting help? How do you know what the “conditions” where given to him. You would want a second chance, no matter what age. Why shouldn’t Herman Laramore help his son? He has many more. If he continues to break the law, I don’t think ANY body will be able to help him. There might be more TOUGH LOVE involved than you are aware of. When someone has a problem, you don’t turn your back on them, you help them. Go to your State Attorney and find out what his conditions for his case being dropped was…......don’t assume.
Yes, I must agree Herman has done alot for this community and, in many cases, let certain things be swept under the rug. However, when one speaks of helping your child, kid, grown son out with a drug addiction by having all charges dropped and no fees accessed is this really helping your child or is it ENABLING and APPROVING of their behaviours.
In my opinion, the best help that could have been offered to an addict is to hold them accountable for their actions with serious repercussions. I know if someone is not ready to be drug free or free of any other addiction nothing is going to help them until THEY are ready. However, like stated above, the kind of help that appears was offered here was implying it’s okay for him to continue his life in this extremely self destructive and dangerous lifestyle.
Most times tough love is the best love…..
I am one of those people who have been helped by Herman Laramore. He’s also helped many of my friends and family. Personally, I was very grateful to have him on my side. Sitting in his office, I couldn’t help but notice all the pictures of his family. The man obviously loves them very much. To have a child with a drug problem must be very hard for him.
Back when he was in private practice, I often saw his truck at the office on Sunday evenings, working late for the people he served. I believe he’s been with the Public Defender’s office his whole career. He gave up a lucrative law practice to become a state employee. When asked why, one of the first things he said was he wanted more time with his family.
Maybe those in the Judicial System did give Ryder a break. Perhaps as a sign of compassion and respect for a man who has given so much to his community. And something tells me that if Ryder breaks that trust again, they’ll come down harder on him. But all that is really just speculation isn’t it?
For those of you who are casting stones, you better hope when a member of your family is in trouble, there’s an attorney around as good as Herman Laramore. One who believes in giving everyone, especially his own child, a second chance. Lucky for you, it won’t be played out in the media with all the tabloid sensationalism.
The Sheriff’s Dept. is not the ones that need to be held accountable.The ones two blame are the State Attnys. office.Herman Laramore helping someone bull.Everyone knows about the good ole boy system.Ryder Laramore should have not been given access to the public defenders office in the first place.After all if he could afford to drive to Panama City to buy drugs he surly could hire an unbiased atty.Yep the good ole boy system is alive and well.But I agrre Lou Roberts had nothing to do with it.I hope Glenn Hess cleans house.
Why doesn’t everyone leave the local law enforcement out of this? Laramore was arrested in Bay County, not Jackson County. I don’t see where Lou Roberts had anything to do with it, he isn’t the sheriff in Bay County.
How many of you have NEVER ask for a favor from someone? If that had been my son, I would have helped him anyway possible, would you do the same for yours? Guess not!!!
How many people has Herman Laramore helped? A LOT, I CAN TELL YOU. Most likely if he hasn’t helped you or someone in your family, he has helped one of your friends or their family.
Matter of fact I think it just shows how good of a Public Defender he is.
Sadly enough this come back to the greatest weakness in todays society. Accountability. We have individuals daily across our county and country to that matter living however they desire with no concern toward the human good. Those that drive anyway they want, including DUI…I actually desire for my family to make it home everyday so that I can see them again, praying a drunk driver doesntt kill them at an intersection (does anyone remember the young woman killed off south street back in the early 2000’s). Dont get me mstarted about those that take the lives of the innocent. Our society no longer has accountability and as long as the judicial system supports this, there will never be change. For those of us who are training our children up to be accountable for their actions in their lives, we can only pray we will see each other at the end of everyday.
I am all for giving someone a break, someone that deserves it. This man is anofficer in the judicial system. How many people has he sent to jail for violating prabation when they should have got a break. He is supposed to set an example. He did set an example, one that shows that money talks and BS walks. I personally believe that any person is going to be in a position to uphold the law should be held to a higher standard. Since he is part of the court system he should have to serve the maximum sentence that the law allows. Why would he be embarrased for dressing like a woman? He shouldn’t be embarrassed by the way he dressed. He knew when he left home he was dressed like a woman and if he didn’t he was to drunk or high to be driving. Yes, Marianna along with all the other counties have a drug problem and making an example out of the law enforcement when they are part of the problem would be a good start to stopping it.
On the side—-His Dad Herman Laramore did let us slide when we were kids…i know that was twenty years ago and we were really on the good ole boy system back then but, i know several of us that his dad helped back then and now in a way I guess his son gets a turn.
Plus, HE HAD ON A DRESS ...lol…give him a break just this once if he is on the METH like it seems that all the 30 and 40 somethings in this town are doing it…he will mess up again…
Let’s face it folks Marianna has a drug problem that needs to be addressed.
Meth is ruining folks in this town. It has taken over. Something needs to be done.
I knew this would be the outcome of this case when I first saw it in the news. I know all to well how the “good ole boy” system works. I am a victim of it myself. It’s not just Jackson County, Holmes County is right there with them. I was married to the daughter of a former judge in Holmes County. I was married for less than 5 years when I was put out om my home after my father-n-law told my wife to call the police and tell thim I was abusing her daughter. I hired an attorney from Bonifay, and she assured me she had no problem going against the former judge. Did I ever make a mistake. No one will ever be able to convince me that she “my attorney” did not sell me out. I asked for a change of venue, due to the fact that my father-n-law was the County Judge for 30 years. My attorney told me that wouldn’t even be an option. I have been through 3 years of having visitation, and phone contact with my children denied. I have had DCF called on me twice. Both times the allegations were unfounded. I have been charged with domestic violence because my ex was scared that I would break into her home and steal everything and once for visiting her uncle. I have been charged with harrassing phone calls inwhich one case is still pending and the other was proved that it was my ex doing the calling and the prosecuter had to drop the charges. I spoke with the prosecuter and was told that he caught a lot of flack for dropping those charges against me. I just wonder where the flack came from? I also asked him what was going to be done about the lies in the sworn statement. His answer to me was “we have bigger fish to fry than someone that has told a lie”. That lie cost me $2500. I was accused of failure to pay my coart ordered child support Nov., Dec. of 05 and Jan. 06, also in a sworn statement. I provided copies of the checks that she endorsed and signed and one of them was even sent certified mail. Nothing was done. After the judge give his final ruling I was ordered to pay $1077.23 a month in child support, $19,233 in equalization pay within 90 days, my ex-wife’s attorney fee’s of $3200 within 45 days, and half of my retirement even though we were married less than 5 years. She got everything we had other than my personal property that I owned before I met her and one of our vehicles that I had to pay for. I filed a complaint against my so called attorney with the Florida State Bar and provided them with the evidense in black and white to prove that I was misrepresented and their answer was they found no wrong doing. The temporary order stated that I had to turn over my check stubs monthly so they could adjust my child support. I turned them over to my attorney and she held on to them and turned them in all at one time. Four months of check stubs filed April 22, 2007. One of those checks that was filed on the 22nd I recieved on the April 25, 2007, and another one I recieved May 2, 2007. How did she file those 2 checks that I had not recieved? Nevertheless she did nothing wrong. That is the “Good Ole Boy” system in Northwest Florida hard at work.
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