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Inset: Anthony Worley (Bay County Jail). Background: The Lagoon Motel in Panama City, Florida, where Worley assaulted his girlfriend (Google Maps).
A man from Georgia is facing prison time after violently assaulting his girlfriend at a Florida motel, enraged by a compliment about her appearance. The incident left her with a broken nose and eye socket.
Anthony Wayne Worley, aged 62, has been sentenced to four years in prison, with credit for the 381 days he had already spent in custody. This follows a jury’s conviction last month on charges of aggravated battery, domestic battery by strangulation, and false imprisonment, according to the Bay County State Attorney’s Office. Details were shared in a press release.
The altercation took place on October 12, 2024, at the Lagoon Motel in Panama City, as previously reported by Law&Crime. Witnesses at the motel heard the woman screaming for assistance. A bystander described seeing her yelling “help me” and “I’m trying to leave” while Worley restrained her by the arm and neck.
Prosecutors revealed that the woman attempted to flee the motel room, but Worley forcibly pulled her back inside. A bystander intervened, aiding her escape to his room and preventing Worley from pursuing her. She remained there until law enforcement arrived.
Emergency responders transported the woman to a hospital, where she underwent urgent surgery to treat her severe facial injuries.
The victim testified at trial that she and Worley, her boyfriend of about six months, were scouting the area for a potential place to live. While they were drinking, someone made an unsolicited but flattering remark about her appearance. This upset Worley, who started arguing with her. The victim then said she was “going back to Georgia,” according to the press release. Worley then repeatedly punched her, smothered her with a pillow and waved a loaded gun at her.
“I got one bullet for you and one bullet for me,” he told her.
Jurors convicted Worley in January after about an hour of deliberating. Prosecutor Jackson White credited the motel guest who intervened to help the victim.
“But for the brave actions of the Good Samaritan responding to her screams for help, there is no way to know what would have happened if the defendant had gotten her back into that room,” White said in a statement. “Because of his help, we do know the man who beat and threatened to shoot the victim is now facing prison time.”