Man Recently Released From Prison Arrested Again After Burglary in Polk County

iSkyNews and Media August 18, 2025

Photo Credit: Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO)

By: Staff Reporter | iSkyNews.com (ISC News)

Published August 18th, 2025

Man Recently Released From Prison Arrested Again After Burglary in Polk County

POLK COUNTY, FL — A 23-year-old man who had just completed a prison sentence earlier this summer is back behind bars after deputies say he committed another crime less than two months after his release.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Stephan Rice IV, 23, was released from state prison on June 12, 2025, after serving four years for grand theft motor vehicle.

Just over two weeks later, on June 30, detectives say Rice burglarized a vehicle in Polk City, stealing a wallet. Investigators report that Rice then used a credit card from that wallet to make a purchase of about $765. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

On August 11, just after midnight, deputies located Rice at a Circle K convenience store on Commonwealth Avenue in Polk City. He was taken into custody on the warrant without incident.

Rice was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of burglary of a conveyance, grand theft, felony petit theft, and unlawful use of a person’s ID.

Authorities say Rice’s criminal history is extensive. His prior arrests include grand theft, petit theft, motor vehicle theft, grand theft of a firearm, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, conspiracy to commit burglary, armed burglary of a dwelling, battery on law enforcement, assault on law enforcement, resisting an officer without violence, corruption by threat to a public official, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana.

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