Santa Rosa Beach couple sentenced to prison time on charges

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — A Santa Rosa Beach couple will spend time in prison after being convicted earlier this week of multiple drug- and fraud-related charges.

Circuit Judge Kelvin Wells sentenced Trina Renee Butler, 38, to seven years in prison and ordered her to pay more than $100,000 in court costs and fines, as well as restitution. She pleaded no contest to charges that included trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, organized fraud, theft and removing a child from the state.

Stephen Butler, 44, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $100,000 in court costs and fines and restitution. He pleaded no contest to charges including burglary, grand theft, conspiracy, possession of drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance.

The two were arrested on drug charges in March 2006 after law enforcement officials discovered a methamphetamine lab at their Santa Rosa Beach home.

Assistant state attorney Josh Mitchell said officials also discovered stolen property, including a computer and woodworking tools, leading to the additional burglary and grand theft charges against Stephen Butler.

Later that month, he was charged with conspiracy, forgery and theft. Mitchell said those charges are related to Trina Butler’s work as a bookkeeper at O.B. Laurent Construction in Grayton Beach. Stephen Butler used a purchase order from the company at a hardwood store in Santa Rosa Beach to purchase more than $5,000 worth of wood, according to his arrest report.

A trial date was set for the couple for early October 2006. However, they fled the country before trial.

Mitchell said it’s not clear where the couple lived between the time they left Florida and this June, when they were arrested in Santa Rosa Beach. Both were charged with failure to appear, and Trina Butler was additionally charged with removing her child from the state, a charge Mitchell said stemmed from the fact that she left the state while a dependency order still was active.

In addition, she was charged with organized fraud, theft and forgery. Those charges stemmed from her bookkeeping work.