(Hernando County, FL) Just hours ago, 38-year-old Michael Steven Pollard Jr. was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Merritt Jr. to five years in the Florida Department of Corrections for his 2023 arrest, as well as new charges brought against him earlier today.
Pollard appeared for court this morning, standing trial for felony charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Grand Theft of a Firearm, both serious offenses that pose a significant threat to public safety.
In April of last year, Pollard was arrested by Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies on the charges after it was reported he was in possession of firearms. HCSO initially responded to a citizen’s assist call, where Pollard was attempting to retrieve items from a residence he shared with a previous partner who currently had an injunction against him.
When officials arrived at the home, the witness indicated that Pollard could grab his belongings inside but asked the deputy what was going to happen to a safe Pollard owned that contained firearms since he was a convicted felon. The deputy investigated the witness’s claim, verifying that Pollard had been adjudicated as a felon in the state of Indiana.
Once questioned by authorities, Pollard indicated that he and the witness had traveled to Indiana to retrieve the safe from his father under the agreement that the witness and his father made. After contacting Pollard’s father, his statements were determined to be false. At the time, Pollard was not allowed to retrieve the safe until further investigation as officials were unable to access the contents inside the safe due to a missing pin pad.
Days later the witness contacted officials and turned over five firearms that were inside the safe. Of the firearms retrieved, one was reported as stolen out of Hendricks County in Indiana. After contacting local authorities there to verify the status of the stolen gun, an arrest warrant was issued for Pollard.
However, it was recently learned that Pollard messaged a witness in his case on March 3 and March 4, instructing the witness not to show up to testify in the trial on March 6, indicating he would make claims they were involved in illegal activities if the witness did appear.
He was arraigned during an emergency hearing and sentenced on both cases shortly after noon.
“Today’s sentencing of Michael Pollard Jr. for possession of a firearm by a felon and tampering with a witness underscores our unwavering commitment to holding individuals accountable for their actions,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “Pollard, an already convicted felon, further emphasized his disregard for the law and the rights of others when he contacted a witness multiple times and instructed that witness to not show up for the trial.”
The State Attorney’s Office appreciates the collaboration and dedication of the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case, especially that of HCSO Deputies Samantha Lewis and William Harsahyi, as well as the support of the witnesses in this case. We commend the diligent efforts of our prosecution team, Assistant State Attorneys Ben Larison and Lori Ellingsworth, in securing this conviction.
Published on 03/06/2024.