Jury Finds Landlord Guilty of Burglary, Battery on Tenant

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Robert Michael Jr. guilty of Burglary with Assault or Battery and Battery for the 2025 attack on his tenant. With the verdict, Michael faces life in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Anthony Salem will sentence Michael at a later date.

On Feb. 24, 2025, the victim was living on Michael’s property as a tenant. Michael changed the lock to a fence so the victim couldn’t access the shed she was living in after the victim had called the police on Michael’s girlfriend for stealing from her. The victim broke a piece of the fence so she could go in. When Michael found out she broke part of the fence, he broke into the shed, punched the victim, and knocked her to the ground. Michael continued to hit the victim; the victim fought back and Michael grabbed her phone. He stole her phone and left, but during their fight, Michael left his own phone behind, which the victim used to call 911. The entire incident was recorded on video and provided to the police. Both Michael and the victim were treated for injuries, and Michael was arrested.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Fallon Hinkley and Kelli Shobe.