Almost one year ago, on April 20, 2025, Matthew Lynn Rhoton of Winter Haven (now 48 years old), got into some trouble by intentionally kicking and damaging the door of a car in a parking lot. The value of the damage was estimated to be about $2,000.
Rhoton was arrested that night for Felony Criminal Mischief.
In February of 2026, Rhoton plead guilty to a lesser charge of Misdemeanor Criminal Mischief and was sentenced to one year probation and ten days of Weekend Work Release (with additional stipulations such as restitution to the victim).
Now, back to the present…
A warrant was issued for the arrest of Matthew Rhoton again, because he failed to appear for weekend work release.
PCSO deputies received a tip through Heartland Crime Stoppers regarding the whereabouts of Rhoton.
At around 5:39 pm on Wednesday, April 15th, deputies located Rhoton on Meadowview Drive in Lakeland, right where the tipster said he would be.
Rhoton was arrested again by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center to be booked-in on his warrant.
