On March 26, Derrius Bauer, 30, of Palm Coast, was convicted and sentenced for his role as an accomplice to Marcus Chamblin in the murder of Deon Jenkins in October 2019. Bauer’s conviction marks the end of the most extensive investigation in the history of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Bauer pleaded no contest to Accessory After the Fact – Capital Offense. Following Bauer’s plea agreement, Judge Dawn Nichols of the Seventh Judicial Circuit sentenced him to 15 years in a Florida Department of Corrections prison, with credit for 1,540 days (or approximately four years and two months) while he was in custody at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.
“This guy tried to thwart our investigation at every turn, but in the end it failed and he is now joining his dirtbag friend in prison,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Even after Marcus Chamblin was convicted, Bauer continued to play games, but eventually the rolling of the dice and likely spending life in prison changed his mind. I believe he finally got smart and made a better choice, because our detectives and partners built a strong case that he would have likely spent the rest of his life in prison if a jury convicted him at a trial.”
Chamblin, who shot and killed Jenkins outside a Circle K gas station in Palm Coast on October 12, 2019, before fleeing the state with Bauer, was sentenced to life in prison in April 2024. A jury found him guilty of First-Degree Murder, Attempted Second-Degree Murder and Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle.
“I want to commend and thank everyone that worked on this case, from the beginning of the investigation in 2019 to securing the final conviction this week, for their dedication to serving justice for Deon and his family,” Sheriff Staly added. “This was the most extensive case in the history of our agency and involved over 15 partner agencies as we pursued the killer and his accomplice across the country, but the resources and time were worth it to put these two behind bars where they belong.”
