A Fort Myers man has filed a federal lawsuit alleging he was arrested for a crime he did not commit, based on a facial recognition result from a system operated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. The case raises pointed questions about probable cause, omitted evidence, and the role technology plays in building a criminal case.
What Happened
According to Law Commentary, on November 2, 2023, Jacksonville Beach police responded to a report of a man who tried to lure a girl under 12 from a local McDonald’s. Officers ran surveillance images through FACES, a facial recognition system operated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and used by agencies across Florida. The system returned a 93% match to Robert Dillon, 52, of Fort Myers.
The evidence had serious gaps. Officers used low-quality screenshots rather than the original high-resolution video. They did not subpoena McDonald’s ordering records or payment data. A manager told police the suspect was a regular. Dillon lived more than 300 miles away.
When Officer O’Connell called Dillon, Dillon denied involvement, said he had never been to Jacksonville Beach, described a distinctive facial scar, and offered to cooperate. License plate records showed neither of Dillon’s vehicles appeared in Duval County in the three days around the incident. None of it made the warrant application.
Dillon was arrested on August 26, 2024. He posted bond using borrowed money and his truck title, hired a defense attorney, and pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors dropped the charge on October 24, 2024.
The Legal Claims
The lawsuit is filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which allows individuals to sue government officials for constitutional violations. Dillon’s core claim is a Fourth Amendment violation: the arrest warrant lacked genuine probable cause because the officer omitted facts that would have undermined it.
The complaint raises Monell liability against the agencies, requiring proof of a systemic policy failure. Dillon alleges the agencies lacked basic safeguards:
- Image quality review before running facial recognition searches
- Required disclosures to officers about the technology’s limitations
- Supervisor approval before seeking warrants based on software output
- Clear rules for photo lineups built from facial recognition results
The lawsuit names the City of Jacksonville Beach, two officers, and the sheriffs of Jacksonville and Pinellas County.
What a 93% Match Actually Means
Facial recognition software measures visual similarity between images, not the probability of guilt. A 93% score means the system found Dillon’s photo visually similar to the surveillance image. It does not mean he committed the crime.
Jacksonville Beach’s own policy described FACES results as investigative leads. The lawsuit argues officers treated the output as confirmation, built a warrant around it, and excluded the evidence that pointed elsewhere.
What This Means in Pinellas County
The FACES system is operated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and used by agencies statewide. A match generated through Pinellas County can drive an arrest anywhere in Florida. Pinellas County federal criminal defense now includes knowing how these technology-driven cases are built and where they break down legally.
If a facial recognition result or database match played a role in your arrest, how that evidence was gathered and presented to a judge matters. A Pinellas County, FL federal crimes defense lawyer can examine whether the warrant was properly supported and whether exculpatory facts were withheld.
Experienced Federal Defense in Pinellas County
StechLaw Criminal Defense represents individuals facing federal and state criminal charges throughout Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay area. Attorney Ben Stechschulte understands how flawed investigative methods find their way into courtrooms and what it takes to challenge them. If you are facing charges tied to questionable evidence, contact the firm.
