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Molino Man With 14 Prior Felony Convictions Charged With Stealing Truck, Shoplifting, Weapon Possession
December 31, 2025
A Molino man with a lengthy criminal history is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing a vehicle and shoplifting from a local retailer while armed with brass knuckles.
James Douglas Arnold III, 30, was arrested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office following two separate incidents that occurred in mid-December.
According to arrest reports, the first incident began on December 12 at the Keeton Correctional Facility at 225 Brent Lane. A 2009 black Dodge Ram was reported stolen from the front of the building after the owner’s son left the keys inside the facility’s front office.
Later that same evening, deputies were dispatched to the Walmart at 8970 Pensacola Blvd regarding a theft in progress. Loss prevention officers reported seeing Arnold opening multiple pocket knives and a crossbow from their packaging, concealing the items, and discarding others around the store. When deputies detained Arnold, they reportedly recovered black brass knuckles from his pants pocket.
Arnold was not immediately jailed following the Walmart incident as he was transported to a local hospital after claiming he had ingested multiple Xanax pills.
On December 20, a deputy spotted the stolen Dodge Ram parked at a cul-de-sac on Ives Place. Arnold was located in the passenger seat and was found in possession of a”personal use” amount of fentanyl. Authorities also discovered a collection of tools, a mini machete, and a BB gun inside the vehicle that did not belong to the truck’s owner.
Investigators noted that Arnold, a 14-time convicted felon, also presented a bill of sale for the truck that the owner later identified as a forgery
Arnold is charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and retail petit theft with prior convictions.
Comments
11 Responses to “Molino Man With 14 Prior Felony Convictions Charged With Stealing Truck, Shoplifting, Weapon Possession”
This is what you do with the one life God gave you?
A 14 time convicted felon, Wow!! Doesn’t look good. He should have some hard labor time. Maybe the courts will look at this with open eyes this time around.
Fl don’t have a three strike law
A craven and despicable failure of the judicial system to protect the people of this area.
What JTV said !!
On the nearest street corner for the rest to go, well maybe we shouldn’t do that.
Florida has Habitual Felony Offender laws but if I am not mistaken, they only apply to certain felonies, not just any three felonies, and most of the focus is on “violent” felonies which occur within 5 years of the sentence ending for the previous “violent” felony.
Should never get the opportunity to be convicted more than 3 times. I wish we’d draw the line and start utilizing the death sentence against career criminals. 3 strikes and you’re out sounds fair.
“A 14 time convicted felon”. Remember the three strikes law? Whatever happened to that? What an insult to the law abiding people. What good were the prior convictions if one like this is free to continue a life of crime? What’s even worse is how many like him with multiple convictions are roaming the country.
“Justice is turned back and righteousness stands afar off, for truth is fallen in the street “ Isaiah 59:14
14 prior convictions but still free to prey on others..
Habitual criminals should stay behind bars!!
When are judges and prosecutors going to get serious about people who repeat offend. I wish we could bring back 3 Strikes.
Most of the problems come from lazy prosecutors who hand out deals so they don’t have to do the work of putting people like this away for years. Deals are not keeping us safe.
So are they just waiting for him to hurt or kill someone?
I miss the days when we would hang a horse thief.