A family dust-up over missing tools in Lake Worth Beach has ended with a prison sentence. On Tuesday, 42-year-old Justin R. Guthrie pleaded guilty in Palm Beach County Court and was sentenced to four years in state prison after admitting to aggravated battery of a person 65 or older and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was credited with 374 days already served in the county jail and ordered to pay court costs. The plea resolves an April 2025 confrontation at his parents' home that deputies say left two people shaken but with no visible injuries.
According to the four-year prison term, deputies responded on April 20, 2025, to the Lake Worth Beach residence after a dispute over missing tools. They reported that Guthrie threatened to kill one man, threw gasoline that splashed onto the victim's face, chased the victim with a lighter and hurled kitchen knives during the incident. Prosecutors did not move forward with a related domestic aggravated battery charge, according to the same report.
Aggravated battery and penalties under Florida law
Under Florida law, aggravated battery generally covers the use of a deadly weapon or causing great bodily harm and is treated as a felony. When the victim is 65 or older, the offense can be reclassified and stricter minimum sentences apply. Section 784.08 of the Florida Statutes sets a minimum three-year prison term for aggravated assault or aggravated battery on a person 65 or older and allows fines up to $10,000, along with restitution and community service. That framework helps explain why Guthrie drew a multi-year state sentence even though deputies reported no visible physical injuries.
The report of no visible injuries notes that Guthrie denied throwing gasoline when officers arrived. He was given credit for 374 days already spent in custody and must pay court costs as part of the sentence. Court records and prosecutors did not immediately provide additional comment.
