Office of State Attorney
Alexcia Cox

15th Judicial Circuit
Serving the Citizens of Palm Beach County

Office of State Attorney
Alexcia Cox

15th Judicial Circuit
Serving the Citizens of Palm Beach County

Conviction Alerts News Graphic

May 9, 2025

Prosecutors Announce Guilty Verdicts

The State Attorney’s Office announces that criminal trial juries this week returned guilty verdicts for several defendants, including:
• Amari Wellons, 21, who was convicted of first-degree murder with a firearm, in a case involving a 2020 shooting on Singer Island. The victim, a 32-year-old woman, was shot and killed while at the beach with her fiancé. Assistant State Attorneys Marci Rex and Jo Wilensky prosecuted the defendant. Sentencing is pending.
• John MacLean, 78, was convicted of armed sexual battery of a 15-year-old in Boca Raton, which occurred in 1976. Assistant State Attorneys Alexa Ruggiero and Nicole Corring prosecuted the case. The defendant was charged in 2012, following a cold case breakthrough linked to DNA evidence. Sentencing is pending.
• Octavius Johnson, 30, was convicted of attempted second degree murder with discharge of a firearm. Assistant State Attorneys Melanie Ouma and Daiana Espindola prosecuted the defendant, who shot at a woman on a Riviera Beach street one night in 2024. Sentencing is pending.
• Vintyre Finney, 41, was convicted of the charge of unlawful use of badge or other indicia of authority. Assistant State Attorneys Kevin Ortega and Jordan Blumenthal prosecuted the defendant, who was charged in January. The court imposed a sentence of six months of probation, 50 community service hours, and a letter of apology to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies involved in the case.
We thank the detectives from Riviera Beach Police, Boca Raton Police and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office who worked on these cases.

For further information contact:

Marc Freeman

mfreeman@sa15.org

(561) 355-7263

Main Office Location

401 North Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Main Number: 561-355-7100
Fax Number: 561-366-1800
StateAttorney@sa15.org

North County Office

3188 PGA Blvd.
Palm Bch Gardens, FL 33418
Main Number: 561-624-6630
Fax Number: 561-624-6548

South County Office

200 W. Atlantic Ave., Ste 100
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Main Number: 561-274-1490
Fax Number: 561-274-1498

Belle Glade Office

38844 State Road 80
Belle Glade, FL 33430
Main Number: 561-996-4820
Fax Number: 561-992-1055

Criminal Justice Complex

3228 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Main Number: 561-688-4640
Fax Number: 561-688-4646