By Staff Report
A Graceville man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Wednesday for stealing an SUV, ramming a responding Holmes County Sheriff’s deputy and leading deputies on a high-speed chase just four days after being released from prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Tyler Wayne Hutto, 34, pleaded to aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer (with a deadly weapon), resisting an officer with violence, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, grand theft of a motor vehicle, grand theft, criminal mischief, fleeing or attempting to elude (high-speed reckless) and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. Circuit Court Judge Russell Roberts adjudicated Hutto guilty on all charges and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
Holmes County Chief Prosecutor Jacob Cook said the defendant’s criminal history includes four previous prison sentences dating back to 2012, with the most recent being a three-year sentence for battery on a law enforcement officer. Hutto was released from prison Jan. 10, 2026, and arrested on the current charges Jan. 14, 2026.
“We take a hard line on offenders who have been recently released from prison, and if Mr. Hutto wishes to continue the same conduct once he gets his freedom back 20 years down the road, he will go to prison for a sixth time,” Cook said.
Cook said prosecutors were prepared to present evidence showing the defendant stole an SUV and attached trailer, attempted to run over the owner, struck a patrol deputy’s vehicle and then fled at speeds nearing 130 mph.
Testimony would have shown that on Jan. 14, the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen SUV. The owner said the defendant took the vehicle and an attached 12-foot trailer from his residence.
The defendant was fleeing from the residence when Deputy J. Thomas spotted him and recognized the vehicle as stolen. The defendant saw the deputy and left the roadway. The deputy attempted to block him, but the driver of the stolen SUV struck the front side of his marked patrol vehicle.
The deputy’s knee was injured in the collision, but he was able to pursue the defendant west on Highway 2 toward State Road 79. Speeds during the pursuit ranged from 70 mph to 130 mph, with the defendant driving recklessly.
Deputy Thomas performed a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique), causing the SUV to leave the roadway. The defendant attempted to flee again, but Deputy Thomas and Sgt. Curtis French boxed him in and removed him from the vehicle. The defendant continued to resist and was tased before deputies were able to take him into custody.
Basford thanked the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office for its handling of the incident and the safe apprehension of the defendant.
GARETT VALCOURT 