SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Navarre Man Arrested and Held on 36 Million Dollar Bond for Child Sex Offenses

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office Investigators arrested a Navarre man for committing 36 crimes against a juvenile involving sexual offenses. The investigation started when investigators found that Cannella had been parking on a daily basis in a side parking lot of Navarre High School. While being parked in his vehicle at the high school, young males would approach his vehicle, talking to him, and then get inside. Investigators observed Cannella parking at Navarre High School on 1/26/07, and a male juvenile got inside his vehicle. Investigators then confronted Cannella and the juvenile inquiring about Cannella being on school grounds with this juvenile. Cannella told investigators that he was helping the juvenile with his homework in the vehicle in the mornings before school. No sexual activity was observed at that time and Cannella was allowed to leave at that time. The investigation continued and interviews were conducted with the juvenile that was present with Cannella on that date. During these interviews, the male juvenile disclosed that Cannella had been involved in sexual activity with him over the past three years. The juvenile stated that Cannella had engaged in oral and anal intercourse with him on at least 12 occasions. These incidents occurred at various locations, to include Cannella's home in Navarre, his office in Pensacola , his work van, his personal vehicle, and in Cannella's vehicle while it was parked in a side parking lot at Navarre High School. The investigation also revealed that Cannella is a counselor in church youth groups at St. Sylvester's Church in Navarre , FL. The juvenile victim also told investigators that he tried to terminate the activities with Cannella in the past, at which time Cannella told him that Cannella would kill himself or other people. Based on the facts gathered during the investigation, a judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Cannella on the below mentioned charges. Cannella turned himself in with at the Santa Rosa County Jail on 2/07/07. He is being held on a $36,000,000.00 bond. No other information is available at this time.

SUSPECT:

Bruno Cannella, W/M, 38 years old

1700 Block of Shellfish Drive, Navarre , FL

Charges:

12 counts of Sexual Battery on a Juvenile, 2 nd degree felony

12 counts of Sexual Offense on a Juvenile 12-15 years of age, 2 nd degree felony

12 counts of Lewd and Lascivious Behavior, 2 nd degree felony

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

850-981-2136

850-698-4441