MARATHON, FL — The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office announced that Misael Asaria Bocio, 43, has been sentenced as a Habitual Felony Offender after pleading no contest to Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle and Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (third or subsequent offense).
County Court Judge Derek Lewis adjudicated Bocio guilty and sentenced him as a Habitual Felony Offender to 364 days in the Monroe County Jail. The court also placed Bocio on 36 months of probation for the Grand Theft charge and ordered him to enter and participate in the Jail Incarceration Program (JIP). If he successfully completes the program, he may be released after serving 210 days in jail. The court also ordered Bocio to pay $538 in court costs and statutory assessments.
Because Bocio was sentenced as a Habitual Felony Offender, the penalties he faces for violating probation are significantly increased. Should he fail to comply with the conditions of probation or the rehabilitation program, he could face a prison sentence of up to ten years.
The court emphasized that participation in the Jail Incarceration Program is intended to provide an opportunity for rehabilitation but strongly warned him that failure to comply with the program or the conditions of probation would likely result in a lengthy prison sentence.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, on November 2, 2025, an Island Time Taxi was taken from a staging area behind a business on 55th Street in Marathon. A short time later, deputies located the vehicle traveling northbound on U.S. 1 and conducted a traffic stop in Islamorada.
Bocio was identified as the driver and sole occupant of the stolen vehicle. During the investigation, deputies determined that Bocio did not possess a valid driver’s license and had not held one since before June 2001. Records also revealed multiple prior convictions for driving while his license was suspended.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney K. Philip Harte.
Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield emphasized the seriousness of the habitual felony offender designation.
“When someone repeatedly violates the law and is ultimately sentenced as a habitual felony offender, it reflects a clear pattern of disregard for the law and the safety of our community,” Mansfield said. “The court has made it clear that this is an opportunity for rehabilitation, but if the defendant fails to comply, the consequences will be far more severe.”
MONROE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Dennis W. Ward, is committed to upholding the law through ethical prosecution, collaboration with investigative partners, and the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Monroe County.
[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]