Duval County Jury Finds Lucas Guilty of String of Liquor Store Thefts

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Gary Lucas guilty of one count of Retail Theft and six counts of Petit Theft relating to a string of liquor store thefts in mid-2024. The State is seeking to label Lucas a Habitual Felony Violent Offender based on a prior Robbery conviction. If deemed as such, Lucas faces up to 30 years in Florida State Prison with a 10-year mandatory minimum. The Honorable Anthony Salem will sentence Lucas at a later date.

On June 11, 2024, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office were investigating Lucas stealing liquor bottles from two businesses on Blanding Boulevard and Lane Avenue, respectively. Associates at both stores identified the suspect as having a distinctive skull tattoo on his right calf, which matched Lucas. Additionally, an associate was able to identify Lucas out of a photo spread. In total, Lucas committed seventeen thefts and stole 49 bottles of liquor valued at more than $1,400. For each of these incidents, Lucas would walk into the store, grab the merchandise, and exit the store without paying.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Nicholas Salatino Jr. and Michael Eckhart.