Work Release No-Show Ends In Arrest For Winter Haven Man After Lakeland Tipster Surfaces

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Winter Haven man who was given a chance to avoid prison time through a weekend work program is back behind bars after deputies say he simply stopped showing up.

The legal saga for 48-year-old Matthew Lynn Rhoton began nearly a year ago on April 20, 2025. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Rhoton was initially arrested for felony criminal mischief after he intentionally kicked and damaged a car door in a parking lot.

The cost to repair the vehicle was estimated at $2,000…

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