A Central Florida defendant was recently found guilty of grand theft auto.
This month, a jury found 43-year-old Michael Corey Bowser-Jones guilty as charged for Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle.
“The proactive efforts of our law enforcement partners led to the quick arrest of this defendant,” said Fifth Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant State Attorney Walter Forgie. “The evidence gathered through their investigation also ensured the successful conviction in this case.”
Back in December of 2023, Bowser-Jones was arrested by deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) after being in possession of a stolen motor vehicle. The owner of the vehicle originally reported it stolen to the Tavares Police Department just four days prior.
HCSO deputies located the vehicle in a convenience store parking lot while on proactive patrol. After running the tag, officials were informed that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Lake County in Central Florida.
Upon entering the store, deputies located the defendant, along with another female, inside. The defendant was at the checkout counter, with items for purchase, along with a set of keys on the countertop.
When questioned, Bowser-Jones advised officers that he arrived at the store after being dropped off. After requesting to see the keys in his possession, deputies were able to determine they were a match to the stolen vehicle. Inside the vehicle, they located a purse on the passenger side that belonged to the female accompanying the defendant. After speaking with the female, she informed deputies that she just met Bowser-Jones, who picked her up in the car earlier that day.
After reviewing surveillance footage from the store, law enforcement was able to positively identify Bowser-Jones operating the motor vehicle, before pulling into the parking lot and exiting the vehicle to enter the store.
Assistant State Attorney Benjamin Larison successfully prosecuted this case.
