Jury Finds Gilchrist Guilty of Armed Robbery of Local Business

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Matthew Gilchrist guilty of Armed Robbery. With the verdict and because Gilchrist is a Prison Release Reoffender and Habitual Violent Felony Offender, Gilchrist faces a minimum mandatory 30 years up to life in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Mark Borello will sentence Gilchrist at a later date.

On the afternoon of Dec. 21, 2020, Gilchrist wore a grey-and-white tracksuit, white sneakers, a blue medical mask, and a pulled-up hood when he went inside a University Boulevard adult novelty store. He took an item from the shelf and brought it to the front counter. When the cashier rang up the item, Gilchrist pulled out a handgun and demanded money before running from the store and driving away in a gray car. Just over a week later, Gilchrist wore the same outfit when he went into an Atlantic Boulevard adult novelty store and attempted another armed robbery in the same manner. He ran from the store but was caught and arrested. Gilchrist’s cellphone and a gray sedan were recovered.

The owner of the gray sedan was Gilchrist’s fiancé, who confirmed through surveillance footage and a photograph that Gilchrist was the person who robbed the University Boulevard store.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Corie Posey and Paige West.