Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 32-year-old man, Marlin D. Roper, has received a sentence of 22 months in state prison, followed by a three-year probation period. This follows his plea of nolo contendere to the charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

On October 15, 2025, authorities from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to an incident on the 3600 block of SW 13th Street. The victim reported that she had been engaged in a text message argument with Roper while at work. Roper, with a two-month-old infant in the car, reportedly drove to her location, and upon her departure, pursued her vehicle, deliberately striking it multiple times. The responding deputy noted that the damage to her car corroborated her account.

Deputies tracked Roper to a relative’s house, where they discovered his vehicle parked outside. The car showed front-end damage that matched the victim’s claims, and its engine was still warm. Roper was found in possession of the car keys.

In court today, Roper opted for a plea of nolo contendere to the charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which could have carried a maximum sentence of 15 years. As part of the plea deal, a related child abuse charge was dismissed.

Judge James Colaw adjudicated Roper guilty and handed down a sentence of 22 months in state prison, recognizing 13 days already served. Following his prison term, Roper will be on probation for three years. He is required to complete a batterers’ intervention program, undergo a mental health evaluation, and adhere to any recommended treatment. Additionally, he must avoid any contact with the victim and refrain from unsupervised interactions with minors.