JEWELRY STORE THIEF SHOT BY STORE OWNER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON

Posted on November 19, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 19, 2018

WALTON COUNTY, Fla—  A suspect who stole more than $80,000 in jewelry from a Miramar Beach business in 2017 will spend a decade behind bars in the Florida Department of Corrections.

Today, Joshua Shannon Graves was sentenced by Judge Kelvin Wells to 10 years in prison for grand theft ($20,000, but less than $100,000), burglary of an occupied dwelling, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief ($1,000 or greater), and wearing a mask on the property of another.  The sentencing was announced Tuesday by State Attorney Bill Eddins office. Graves previously entered a plea of no-contest straight to the Court for this charge on September 19, 2019.

Graves was one of two men who burglarized K&M Jewelers on April 29, 2017. Graves and one additional suspect broke into the store with a crowbar and quickly began smashing display cases.

The owner of the store, who was living above the business, heard the break-in and armed himself. When he went downstairs to confront the burglars the two men moved towards him. The owner opened fire and hit Graves in the arm. Both men fled the store with $80,000 in jewelry. The third suspect was waiting in the getaway vehicle. The entire incident was captured on surveillance video in and outside of the business.

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An investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Bureau led to the identification of Graves and his co-defendants. All three men were arrested in Alabama.

After resolving an Alabama criminal case, Graves was transported back to Florida to face burglary charges.  He has previously been convicted of burglary and had multiple prior theft convictions.

Assistant State Attorney Matthew Richardson prosecuted the case.