Duval County Jury Finds Hines Guilty of Illegal Possession of Gun

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Justin Hines guilty of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. With the verdict, Hines faces up to 15 years in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Tatiana Salvador will sentence Hines at a later date.

On Oct. 2, 2023, a caller dialed 911 and said, “he’s got a gun and he is going to kill me” and then hung up. Officers with Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office followed up at the location where the call came from on 7^th Street West. The officer saw Hines parked in a red truck. Hines reached under his front seat, got out of the car, and reached into the truck bed. The officer told Hines to show him his hands and Hines was detained. When the passenger got out of the truck, the officer saw marijuana and smelt the odor coming from the truck. The officer looked under the front seat and saw the handle of a pistol. Hines 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 prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Marisa Materazzi and Rachel Allison.