A Central Florida defendant was sentenced for violating probation.
During a recent hearing, Volusia County defendant Scott Knowlton was sentenced to 45 years in prison. In July, he admitted to violating the conditions of his probation 14 times.
Knowlton was convicted in 2023 of Trafficking in Fentanyl (14 grams to 28 grams), Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Sell, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Sell and Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, along with two other felonies and a misdemeanor. He served time in prison for those offenses before being released and placed on probation.
While on probation in August 2025, Knowlton ran away from a Holly Hill police officer. He dropped a backpack containing fentanyl and other drug paraphernalia. Once he was identified, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Knowlton remained wanted when Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Brian Henderson encountered him in Daytona Beach in November 2025.
The incident led to additional charges, including Kidnap Inflict Bodily Harm/Terrorize Victim, Battery, Resisting an Officer Without Violence, Carrying a Concealed Weapon by In-State Felon and Possession of Paraphernalia.
As he was driving down Atlantic Avenue, Chief Deputy Henderson witnessed Knowlton chasing a woman who appeared afraid of him. When she tried to run away, Knowlton grabbed and pulled her away against her will.
Henderson intervened and told Knowlton to stop, but he ignored the command, dropped a backpack and ran away toward the Ocean Center.
Surveillance video later showed Knowlton punching the woman in the back of the head and continuing to hold her as she tried to escape. Deputies also recovered a gun and drug paraphernalia from the backpack Knowlton left at the scene.
The victim was treated at the scene for her injuries. Two days later, Knowlton was found and arrested in Ormond Beach.
“This defendant was irredeemable – a lost cause who was never going to change,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said. “Good riddance.”
“Last time I saw Scott Knowlton, he was assaulting and dragging his girlfriend in the street,” Chief Deputy Brian Henderson recalled. “Today, it was a pleasure to see him held accountable and sentenced to prison where he can’t hurt anyone else. Violent, repeat criminals like him are a danger to our community and a drain on society.”
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood added a thank you to the anonymous tipster who turned Knowlton in after a reward was posted.
The Violation of Probation case was investigated by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney Ashley McCarthy successfully prosecuted the case for the State of Florida. The Honorable Leah Case heard the case and imposed sentence. The defendant had additional charges related to the drug and domestic violence cases pending in Volusia County.
ALSO: Central Florida Man on Probation Arrested on Similar Charges
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