Convicted Felon Found Guilty of Possessing Firearm

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Donald Wayne Martin Jr., of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Martin was sentenced on June 19, 2019, by the Honorable Angela Cox to nearly two years in the Florida State Prison.

On Sept. 29, 2018, police responded to a Northside motel regarding a dispute involving Martin over money. Police made contact with Martin and attempted to resolve the dispute by asking to search a backpack Martin held in his hand. Martin allowed police to search his backpack — inside they discovered a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun. The firearm was loaded with a round in the chamber and a magazine containing eight live rounds. A separate magazine containing two live rounds was also found in the backpack. Martin admitted to police he was a convicted felon and claimed to keep the firearm as protection. He said he was given the handgun by a friend, but he could not recall the friend’s name. When police ran the firearm’s serial number, they discovered it was reported stolen in 2017.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Annie Maguire and Patrick McGee.