BY DAN HILDEBRAN
A 44-year-old Starke man was sentenced to six years with the Department of Corrections after pleading to living off the earnings of a prostitute and stealing U.S. mail from a Hampton resident.
Michael Brandon Morris was sentenced to six years for the prostitution charge and five years for three counts of felony petit theft. The sentences will run concurrently.
Morris was arrested on April 10 following a March 18 complaint in which a Hampton area man said the 44-year-old stole mail from his mailbox.
Deputies identified Morris using security camera footage, which revealed the tag of the car he was using and tattoos on his arms.
In May, Assistant State Attorney Ryan King asked a judge to restrict the defendant’s use of communications from inside the Bradford County Jail after telephone call recordings revealed Morris was directing a female to engage in prostitution to raise money for his legal defense.
“On recorded phone conversations from the Bradford County Jail…” wrote King in a motion, “Defendant directs (the woman) how to solicit herself, what sexual acts to engage in, how much to charge for the various sexual acts, and then debates her as to the prices she is charging for her various customers.”
King said that since May 8, 2025, Morris had made 1,871 calls from the Starke lockup.
“Defendant’s calls are not only abhorrent,” King added, “but also evidence of Defendant’s conspiring (to) violate Florida law.”
King highlighted one May 23, 11:45 a.m. phone call in which Morris listened in while the female negotiated a deal for sexual services for $130.
“In a subsequent call at 11:53 a.m.,” wrote King, “Defendant becomes outraged that she accepted…$130 for services discussed.”
King also pointed out another May 23 phone call in which Morris complained to the woman that he had given her a month and a half to raise money for his legal defense and that she was not working hard enough.
“Defendant goes on to discuss how he plans on accepting an offer involving the Department of Corrections since (the woman) is not selling herself sufficiently at his request,” King wrote.
