A 30-year-old probationary firefighter for Jacksonville Fire and Rescue was booked into the Marion County Jail on Friday, facing five charges including an arrest warrant for lewd or lascivious behavior involving a victim between 12 and 16 years old. Joshua Kotsis, who lives in St. Augustine, was taken into custody more than 100 miles from Jacksonville, where he has worked as a JFRD probationary firefighter for less than six months.
According to Action News Jax, Kotsis is charged with sale of obscene material and lewd behavior with minor children, with the Marion County Sheriff's Office providing documents concerning his arrest. Booking records reviewed by Marion County Mugshots show Kotsis was booked on August 21, 2026, on five total charges tied to the case. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue said it is investigating the matter involving Kotsis and will provide updates as the case progresses, per the same report from Action News Jax.
Distance Between Home, Job and Jail Raises Jurisdiction Questions
The case spans three separate jurisdictions. Kotsis lives in St. Augustine, works for JFRD in Jacksonville, and was arrested in Marion County, which sits roughly 90 miles southwest of St. Augustine and about 106 miles southwest of Jacksonville, according to Travelmath. That geographic spread means Marion County law enforcement and Jacksonville authorities both have a role in how the case unfolds.
The specific charge cited in the arrest warrant, lewd or lascivious behavior by an adult 18 or older involving a victim between 12 and 16 years of age, falls under Florida Statute 800.04. Lewd or lascivious molestation committed by an adult against a victim between 12 and 15 years old is classified as a second-degree felony in Florida, which can carry up to 15 years in state prison and a $10,000 fine, according to Online Sunshine. Convictions under that statute also mandate registration as a Florida sex offender and can require lifelong sex offender probation, per Pumphrey Law.
Obscene Material Charge Carries Separate Felony Exposure
Kotsis also faces a charge of selling obscene material, which under Florida Statute 847.0133 covers knowingly transmitting, selling, or showing obscene material to a minor under 18. That offense is classified as a third-degree felony, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine per count. It remains unclear how the five total charges against Kotsis break down beyond the warrant charge and the obscene material charge described in booking records.
JFRD's Probationary Rules Give Department Wide Latitude
Kotsis has worked as a JFRD probationary firefighter for less than six months, a status that matters for how the department can respond internally. Under City of Jacksonville Civil Service guidelines, probationary employees serve an initial period during which department management can terminate employment without the full appeal rights granted to permanent personnel. That gives JFRD administrative latitude to act on Kotsis's employment status while the criminal case moves through the courts, independent of any court outcome.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue operates more than 60 stations across Duval County and ranks among Florida's five largest fire departments, according to MyJFRD. Mayor Donna Deegan's fiscal year 2026 city budget committed more than $1.07 billion toward public safety, split between the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and JFRD to support recruit hiring and equipment, according to the City of Jacksonville.
Case Follows Other Recent JFRD Discipline Matters
The Kotsis case adds to a string of recent legal troubles among JFRD personnel. Hoodline previously reported that a Jacksonville firefighter was suspended without pay after his arrest during an undercover drug sting in July. In January, four JFRD employees were placed on administrative duty after being charged in connection with a paintball spree targeting a police patrol car and civilian vehicles. Those cases, alongside Kotsis's arrest, illustrate how JFRD's internal administrative reviews tend to run alongside criminal court proceedings rather than wait for their outcomes.
All charges against Kotsis remain allegations at this stage, and no court determination has been made. JFRD has said only that it is investigating and will provide updates as the case develops.
