FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erin Maloney, Communications Director
Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit
(813) 557-3366 | Erin.Maloney@sao13th.com
Agency appoints new Chief of Major Crimes, adds Death Penalty Specialist position for first time in history
TAMPA, FL (June 18, 2024) — State Attorney Suzy Lopez announced significant changes to the agency’s Major Crimes Division. This division handles the county’s most complex and high-profile criminal cases including homicide, DUI manslaughter, and gun violence cases. Career prosecutor John Terry will be the new Chief of Major Crimes, supervising all attorneys and clerical staff in the division. Veteran prosecutor Scott Harmon was tapped to become our first-ever Death Penalty Specialist.
The decision to seek the death penalty is reserved for the most cruel and atrocious offenses and is not to be taken lightly. Having an expert in this area will enhance our decision-making process and strengthen prosecutions. These moves together signify State Attorney Lopez’ commitment to devoting additional resources to the most serious crimes facing our communities.
“These experienced attorneys have dedicated their lives to prosecuting the most heinous crimes our office handles. Their new roles will enhance our agency’s collaboration with law enforcement, which is paramount to our mission of strengthening public safety. Both John Terry and Scott Harmon will also be instrumental in guiding and developing our next generation of homicide prosecutors to keep Hillsborough County safe,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez.
John Terry is a Tampa native who joined the State Attorney’s Office in 1992. He has tried over 150 jury trials, most of which involved homicides or high-profile cases in the office’s Homicide Division. Terry earned his law degree from Emory University and has been a Board-Certified Criminal Trial Attorney since 2010. Terry is a recipient of the Tampa Police Department’s prestigious Bell-Childers Award for exemplary public service.
Scott Harmon joined the State Attorney’s Office in 1998 and was promoted to the Homicide Division the following year. This would begin his dedication to our county’s most difficult cases within the criminal justice system. He secured guilty verdicts in some of the agency’s most high-profile death penalty cases, including the trials of Dontae Morris and Granville Ritchie. Harmon is recognized throughout the state and nation for his expertise in the area of death penalty litigation. A graduate of the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, Harmon is also a recipient of Tampa Police Department’s Bell-Childers Award for exemplary public service.
State Attorney Lopez leads a team of talented prosecutors and professional staff who are responsible for all criminal prosecutions in the 13th Judicial Circuit. The State Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping the public informed about the outcomes of major court cases to ensure transparency and accountability. We believe it is of utmost importance for the public to understand how our justice system operates in order to build trust. To learn more about the outcome of cases prosecuted in our office, you can follow us on social media:
- Twitter: @HillsboroughSAO, @SuzyLopezSA
- Instagram: @HillsboroughStateAttorney
- Facebook: @HillsboroughSAO