By Staff Writers

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a courtroom decision, Robert Charles Reno III, a 35-year-old resident of Newberry, has received a 30-day jail sentence along with three years of probation. This follows his plea of nolo contendere to charges of brandishing a firearm at two teenagers along Interstate 75.

Incident Overview

On September 7, 2025, an alarming incident unfolded on southbound I-75 near the 388-mile marker, roughly two miles beyond the NW 39th Avenue exit. An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched after receiving reports from two teenagers, aged 17 and 18 from High Springs, who claimed a man had threatened them with a handgun while driving alongside them.

According to the deputy’s findings, both the teens’ vehicle and Reno’s car were traveling in the left lane when the driver of the teens’ car abruptly braked, forcing Reno to do the same to avoid a collision. In response, Reno maneuvered into the center lane, pulled alongside the teens’ vehicle, and allegedly brandished a handgun in their direction. Fearing for their safety, the driver of the teens’ car accelerated to distance themselves from Reno’s threatening presence.

Plea Agreement

On March 5, Reno entered a plea of nolo contendere to two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; according to the plea agreement, the charges carry a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in state prison.

On the same date, Judge James Colaw sentenced Reno to 30 days in the Alachua County Jail with credit for six days’ served, followed by three years of probation. He is required to forfeit the firearm that was involved in the incident, and he has to attend and complete an anger management course. While on probation, Reno is required to abstain from the use of alcohol to excess or illegal drugs and must submit to random urine tests.

Reno turned himself in to begin serving his sentence last night.