Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – An Ocala resident, Travis Ramone Pinder, aged 35, has received a nine-month jail term followed by four years of probation after pleading nolo contendere to charges of child abuse without inflicting great bodily harm.

Pinder’s initial arrest occurred on June 21, 2025, when he faced accusations of aggravated child abuse. The incident involved a 17-year-old victim who alleged that Pinder approached him and delivered a blow to the left side of his face, resulting in partial tearing of his ear. The teenager realized the assault involved a firearm only after noticing Pinder holding a gun. According to the responding officer from the Gainesville Police Department, the likelihood of the earlobe being reattached was slim, and the victim would likely endure lasting scars.

On February 24, Pinder opted for a no-contest plea to the charge of child abuse without great bodily harm, classified as a third-degree felony. The plea agreement indicates that this offense could carry a maximum penalty of five years in state prison.

Judge James Colaw handed down a sentence of 270 days in incarceration, accounting for seven days already served, followed by a four-year probation period. During probation, Pinder is required to complete an anger management course, maintain no contact with the victim, and refrain from possessing any weapons or firearms.