JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is preparing a potential civil action against the City of Jacksonville after determining the city unlawfully maintained what he calls an “illegal firearm registry” for nearly two years, escalating a dispute with local prosecutors who declined to bring criminal charges.

In a letter sent Monday to Fourth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Melissa Nelson, Uthmeier said his office would retrieve evidence connected to logbooks kept at Jacksonville City Hall and the nearby Yates Building between July 2023 and spring 2025. Those logs recorded more than 140 entries documenting names, birthdates, ID numbers, and firearm types for over 100 people entering city buildings while armed, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

According to Uthmeier’s letter, Nelson’s office concluded in January that the practice resulted from poor communication, a lack of legal review, and a mid-level employee’s misunderstanding of state law — not criminal intent. Her investigation found the directive, issued by facilities manager Mike Soto in a memo drafted June 30, 2023, and formalized in late July, was never submitted to the city’s Office of General Counsel. Nelson’s office determined that sanctions under state law only apply when a registry is created “knowingly and willfully.”

Uthmeier rejected that assessment, arguing the logbooks still violated section 790.335 of Florida Statutes, which bars local governments from keeping any list or registry of privately owned firearms or their owners. In his letter, he wrote that the city’s conduct “does not withstand scrutiny,” adding that ignorance of the law “is no excuse” and that keeping the logs was intentional and thus met statutory requirements.

The Attorney General’s Office cannot prosecute the case, but can pursue civil enforcement, according to the AG. Under the statute, Jacksonville could face fines of up to $5 million if a registry was created with the “knowledge or complicity” of city leadership. Uthmeier said his office, led by Deputy Attorney General Jason Hilborn, would move forward with collecting evidence and evaluating whether such penalties apply.

See also: Widows of West Palm Beach officers fight city over line-of-duty death benefits

The city has maintained that the directive originated from one employee and was never authorized by senior leadership. A spokesperson for Mayor Donna Deegan said Jacksonville fully cooperated with Nelson’s investigation, which found no evidence that the information was copied, shared, or used for lawenforcement purposes. The city stopped the logging practice immediately after it was discovered in April 2025, officials said.

The controversy has fueled political tensions, with Gov. Ron DeSantis and other critics labeling the logbooks a violation of residents’ constitutional rights. Uthmeier’s announcement signals the matter is far from resolved, despite the State Attorney’s conclusion that the issue stemmed from administrative errors rather than intent to break the law.

Uthmeier said Floridians whose personal data was recorded “deserve accountability” and may be entitled to redress. His office has asked Nelson for continued cooperation as the civil review moves forward.