Grand Jury Indictments Announced in Two Cases

Today State Attorney Amira Fox announces two indictments brought forth by the Lee County
Grand Jury. The Grand Jury was sworn in and convened this week by State Attorney Fox to hear
two separate cases.

Defendant Nicholas Stephen Canfield, 25, has been indicted for:

Count I: First Degree Murder, F.S. 782.04 (1), Capital Felony
Count II: Sexual Battery, Child Less than 12 Years of Age, F.S. 794.011(2), Capital Felony
Counts III-V: Aggravated Child Abuse, F.S. 827.03(2), First Degree Felony

The first three charges are for one victim. The two additional counts of Aggravated Child Abuse
pertain to two additional victims.

The indictment charges that Canfield murdered a child on or about April 29, 2020 in Lee County.
The indictment charges the additional crimes happened on one or more occasions between
March 1, 2020 and April 29, 2020, also in Lee County.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation in this case. Assistant State Attorney
Francine Donnorummo, Special Victims Unit Chief, and Assistant State Attorney Natalie Savino
will be prosecuting the case for our office.

In an unrelated case, the Lee County Grand Jury has indicted defendant Jessica Niccole Wright,
37, for:

Count I: First Degree Murder -Unlawful Distribution of Fentanyl, F.S. 782.04 (1)(a)(3); 777.011,
Capital Felony
Count II: Sale or Delivery of a Controlled Substance, F.S. 893.13(1)(a); 777.011, Second Degree
Felony
Count III: Sale or Delivery of a Controlled Substance within 1,000 ft. of a School, F.S.
893.13(1)(c); 777.011, First Degree Felony
Count IV: Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell or Deliver within 1,000 ft. of a
School, F.S. 893.13(1)(c); 777.011, First Degree Felony

The indictment charges that Wright, on or about August 22, 2019, in Lee County, did unlawfully
distribute a controlled substance, Fentanyl, which caused the death of a woman.

“In Florida, the First Degree Murder Statute allows a person to be charged if they distribute a
controlled substance that causes a person to die. I want to make it clear, that if you distribute an
illegal substance in the 20th Judicial Circuit that causes someone’s death, and the facts and
evidence are there to support the crime, you will be charged with First Degree Murder,” said
State Attorney Fox.

Assistant State Attorney John Dommerich Jr. and Assistant State Attorney Tyler Lovejoy, Lee
County Felony Division Chiefs, will be prosecuting the case. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office
also led the investigation in this case.

Wright was previously arrested in Operation Block Party that concluded in September, led by the
Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, known as NETFORCE. In late 2019, State Attorney Fox
created NETFORCE to coordinate a circuit-wide approach to identifying, investigating, and
dismantling long-term organized crime, narcotics, racketeering, and money-laundering criminal
enterprises.

“I want to thank the Grand Jury for their attention to the information presented in these two very
serious cases, over the last two days. The facts and evidence in these cases were not easy to hear
or see. I appreciate their time and professionalism in this matter,” said State Attorney Fox.

Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
239-533-1125
ssyoen@sao20.org