Former St. Augustine Assistant Police Chief Anthony Cuthbert Pleads No Contest to Grand Theft From Police Charity

Anthony Cuthbert, the former assistant chief of the St. Augustine Police Department, has pleaded no contest to felony grand theft for taking money from the St. Augustine Police Benevolent Organization, the officer-funded charity where he served as treasurer for more than two decades. Cuthbert entered the plea on Oct. 28, First Coast News reported, and is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 23.

Under the agreement, prosecutors and the defense agreed that Cuthbert will receive a term of probation on the grand theft charge. The two sides will argue at sentencing over whether the judge should withhold adjudication, which would mean Cuthbert is not formally convicted.

What the plea means

A no contest plea, also called nolo contendere, means a defendant does not dispute the charge without formally admitting guilt. The court treats the case as resolved and moves to sentencing. Florida law gives judges that option: under section 948.01 of the Florida Statutes, a court that finds a defendant is unlikely to reoffend may either adjudge the defendant guilty or "stay and withhold the adjudication of guilt," and a felony defendant who receives a withhold must be placed on probation. In Cuthbert's case, the open question for the Dec. 23 hearing is not whether he will go to prison, since both sides have agreed on probation, but whether the judge will enter a formal conviction or withhold it.

Cuthbert was originally charged with two felonies: grand theft over $20,000 and organized scheme to defraud less than $50,000, according to Action News Jax. First Coast News reported that he pleaded to a single count of grand theft, and its report did not say how the scheme-to-defraud charge was resolved. Under Florida's theft statute, taking property worth $20,000 or more but less than $100,000 is grand theft in the second degree, while amounts from $750 up to $20,000 fall in the third degree. When he was arrested, attorney Chris Carson, who is not connected to the case, told Action News Jax the two original charges were punishable by up to 15 years in prison if Cuthbert were convicted, and that any sentence could depend on factors such as his ability to pay restitution. Published reports on the plea have not said whether restitution is part of the agreement or whether Cuthbert has repaid the organization.

What investigators alleged

According to an affidavit filed in the 7th Judicial Circuit and reported by News4JAX, investigators examined the charity's bank account and Cuthbert's personal account for the period from Jan. 1, 2020, to Dec. 2, 2025. They found 177 checks written from the organization to Cuthbert, each signed and endorsed by him and deposited into his personal account, totaling $22,722.

Investigators also identified $17,632 in cash deposits into his personal account that they suspected belonged to the charity. Combined, investigators put the total at $40,354.

When investigators interviewed Cuthbert at his home on Jan. 22, 2026, in a non-custodial setting, he voluntarily acknowledged supplementing his monthly income with the fund's money through what he described as "loans to self" that he intended to repay, according to the affidavit as reported by News4JAX.

The numbers by category, as described in the court affidavit:

How the case came to light

Cuthbert served as treasurer of the Police Benevolent Organization starting in 2003, according to the police department, and retired from the department in November 2025. Financial discrepancies surfaced during a review of the organization's accounts shortly after his retirement.

In late January, the St. Augustine Police Department announced in a news release that the Office of the State Attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit was investigating and reviewing the past five years of the charity's financial records. The city and the department said they had no authority over or involvement in the organization's administration or finances and were cooperating with investigators. The State Attorney's Office declined to comment at the time.

Cuthbert turned himself in at the Putnam County Sheriff's Office in early February on the warrant and was released after posting a $5,000 bond, Action News Jax reported. Court documents at the time indicated he planned to plead not guilty.

What the charity is

The St. Augustine Police Benevolent Organization is a private nonprofit funded by members of the department. It provides financial assistance to officers and their families in times of need, and it operates independently of the City of St. Augustine and the police department. The department told First Coast News that the organization is not supported by taxpayer dollars.

After the arrest, the organization's president, Kevin Carroll, said in a statement reported by Action News Jax that "these actions do not reflect who we are or what we stand for," and that the group had "fully cooperated with The State Attorney's Office throughout their investigation."

Reaction and the defense

Cuthbert's attorney, Terry Shoemaker, said early in the investigation that his client was cooperating fully. He also criticized the police department for publicizing the investigation before any charging decision, calling the move "unprofessional" and saying it was "utterly irresponsible" because the investigation was far from finished, News4JAX reported. Shoemaker suggested the department had "ulterior motives" and said Cuthbert was embarrassed and ashamed by the department's public Facebook post about the case. Asked whether his client had a message for the public, Shoemaker told News4JAX, "No, not at this point."

News4JAX crime and safety analyst Tom Hackney said he was surprised the department released the information before an arrest but welcomed it. "I'm honestly glad that they did that," Hackney said, adding that thefts from such funds erode public trust.

What's next

Cuthbert is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 23 in St. Johns County. The agreed sentence is probation, and the judge will decide after hearing arguments whether to withhold adjudication or formally convict him. Published reports have not said whether restitution to the Police Benevolent Organization will be part of the final sentence.