This is why charges were dropped against a man accused of sex crimes against children
Saying there was not enough evidence to move forward, the state has dropped charges against one man accused of sex crimes against children.
The 15th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office announced its decision in the case of Anthony Strickland late Monday. The decision happened just days after two co-defendants took plea deals and were sentenced to prison.
Panteleimon Spirakis, Lindsey Honeycutt, Ambrose Heavener and Strickland were each charged with several crimes against children in 2016. Police say the four sexually exploited a 4-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl by forcing them to have sex with each other and adults. Some of the incidents happened at a strip club where Honeycutt worked, authorities said.
Spirakis previously pleaded guilty and is serving 20 years in prison. He has requested a new trial.
Last week, Heavener and his attorney negotiated an Alford plea, which is when a defendant does not admit to their role in the alleged incident, but says there is enough evidence they would likely be found guilty in a trial. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Honeycutt was also sentenced to 15 years in prison last week after having previously pleaded guilty at a hearing last year.
In a letter detailing Strickland’s status, Assistant Solicitor Leigh Andrew noted that Honeycutt was unwilling to implicate Strickland in connection to the crimes. Some of the evidence against Strickland came from a conversation Heavener had with a jailhouse informant, Andrew noted.
Andrew added that there was not sufficient evidence to move to trial against Strickland. All the pending charges were dismissed.
This story was originally published July 1, 2019 at 5:47 PM.
