JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. – A Jackson County man is facing multiple felony charges after deputies say he confessed to stealing more than a dozen firearms during a home burglary on Highway 162.
Joseph Ellis Deese was arrested on July 7, 2025, following a traffic stop by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. During the stop, deputies found a box of ammunition in his vehicle, leading to his arrest for a probation violation. Deese, already on state probation with a prior burglary record, later admitted to the June 30 break-in and theft of firearms.
Investigators say Deese stole 10 long rifles, one air rifle, and a large amount of ammunition. He reportedly sold several of the rifles before his arrest but helped detectives recover nearly all the stolen weapons—only one remains unaccounted for.
Authorities also recovered another firearm during the investigation that had previously been reported stolen out of Houston County, Ala.
Deese is currently being held on a $405,000 bond. His charges include:
3 counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm
2 counts of Felon in Possession of Ammunition
10 counts of Grand Theft of a Firearm
6 counts of Dealing in Stolen Property
1 count of Criminal Mischief over $1,000
1 count of Armed Burglary
Sheriff Donnie Edenfield thanked the Houston County Sheriff’s Office and State Probation and Parole for their assistance in the case.
Anyone who may have purchased firearms or property from Deese is urged to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 850-482-9624.
