Hurley Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Markus Hurley pleaded guilty to the court on the day trial was set to begin for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Hurley faces up to 15 years in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Mark Borello will sentence Hurley at a later date.

On Oct. 29, 2023, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Hurley for failure to wear a seatbelt. The officer detected an odor of cannabis coming from the vehicle and established probable cause for a search of the vehicle. During the search, the officer found a backpack on the rear passenger side with a loaded firearm inside. Hurley’s work ID was also in the bag. Hurley is a previously convicted felon and is not legally allowed to possess a firearm.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Loana Nardoni and Donna Thurson.