Longtime Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Mourned

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — An outpouring of condolences and tributes filled social media sites Saturday following the announcement that Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe died Friday.

Longtime friend, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court Ken Burke, confirmed McCabe's death Saturday. McCabe was 73 years old.

McCabe served as the chief prosecutor for the Sixth Judicial Court for 28 years. The Sixth Judicial Court covers both Pinellas and Pasco counties.

During that time, he oversaw the prosecution of dozens of high-profile cases on behalf of the state. Pinellas and Pasco counties for 28 years, handling more than 132,000 criminal cases a year with a staff of 165 prosecuting attorneys, and led the prosecution of a number of high-profile cases in both counties.

Most recently, McCabe made the decision to prosecute Michael Drejka for the 2018 shooting of Markeis McGlockton outside a convenience store in Clearwater. Drejka, who is white, claimed he was justified in shooting McGlockton, an unarmed Black man, under the "stand your ground" defense, saying he feared for his life after getting into an argument with McGlockton's girlfriend over a handicapped parking space and McGlockton defended her.

In August 2019, a Florida jury found Drejka guilty of manslaughter.

Other recent cases prosecuted under McCabe's direction include the case against John Johnchuck, who was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2019, for throwing his 5-year-old daughter, Phoebe, off the Dick Misener Bridge.

McCabe also oversaw the 2018 case against Charisse Stinson, who admitted to striking her 2-year-old son, Jordan Belliveau, hiding his body in some woods in Largo and claiming that he'd been kidnapped. Stinson was convicted of second-degree murder in 2020.

In addition to handling prosecutions in Pasco and Pinellas counties, McCabe is credited with launching a successful anti-gang program, founding the Veterans Treatment Court and creating a special domestic violence program using a specially trained staff of attorneys, a criminal investigator and victim advocates.

Pinellas-Pasco Chief Judge Anthony Rondolino has appointed McCabe's longtime chief assistant, Bruce Bartlett, to serve as acting state attorney until the governor can appoint an interim state attorney.

McCabe was first elected to the office in 1992 and was re-elected without opposition every year since. He had just been re-elected to another four-year term in April after running unopposed.

The cause of his death has not been announced but Burke said he had been in poor health for several months.

"State Attorney Bernie McCabe's passing Friday night equals the loss of a legend in the arena of jurisprudence," said Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Pasco County clerk and comptroller. "We'll miss his intellect, empathy and eye for innovation."

"Saddened to hear of Bernie McCabe's passing," said Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren. "He dedicated his life to public service, and his leadership among Florida’s state attorneys will be missed. Our thoughts are with his wife Denise and the entire 6th Circuit SAO."