Preslar Found Guilty of Attempted First-Degree Murder

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Steven Preslar was found guilty by a jury of Attempted First-Degree Murder, Domestic Battery, and Resisting Officer Without Violence. The Honorable Anthony Salem sentenced Preslar to 25 years in Florida State Prison during an April 29, 2022, hearing.

In the early morning hours of Nov. 27, 2020, members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to an Arlington home in reference to a domestic dispute. When they arrived, the patrol officers observed the female victim kneeling behind a parked car in front of the garage. Preslar ran toward her and attempted to fire a handgun. Trying to evade Preslar, the victim circled the vehicle and then ran directly toward the responding officer with Preslar still behind her attempting to fire the weapon, but it jammed. The victim fell to the ground with Preslar on top of her. The arresting officer was able to safely remove the handgun from Preslar with the assistance of a witness at the scene. Preslar was then arrested.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Katelyn Johnston and Rachel England.