State Attorney Bill Eddins announced that late in the evening on February 28, 2019 a Santa Rosa County Jury convicted Cody James Gomez of Principal to Attempted Second Degree Murder with a Firearm and Principal to Attempted Armed Robbery with a Firearm. Circuit Judge Darlene Dickey presided over the case. Gomez faces up to 30 years in state prison on the attempted murder charge and up to 15 years in state prison on the attempted robbery charge.
On March 23, 2017 Gomez and his co-defendant Jonalbert Vidal went to the home of William Johnson in Navarre under pretenses of purchasing an ounce of marijuana from Johnson. Evidence from a cell phone associated with Gomez showed Gomez planned ahead of time to rob Johnson. Upon arrival, Gomez and Vidal entered the home of Johnson by requesting Johnson to weigh the marijuana. Once inside, Vidal shot Johnson once in the face, and Gomez and Vidal fled the scene without the drugs. Johnson was able to tell authorities immediately after the shooting that Gomez had come with his friend to purchase drugs and was involved in the shooting. Gomez and Vidal were apprehended in Okaloosa County on March 25, 2017.
Jonalbert Vidal entered a plea of no contest on July 23, 2018 to Attempted Second Degree Murder with a Firearm and Attempted Armed Robbery with Firearm and received a 25 year state prison sentence. As the shooter and individual who actually possessed the firearm, Vidal will serve his sentence day for day under Florida’s 10-20-LIFE statute.
Gomez is scheduled to be sentenced before Circuit Judge Darlene Dickey on March 28, 2019.
The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney Amy Shea prosecuted the case. For further information, please contact Ms. Shea at 850-595-4243.
