Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Marqui Allen Branch, 31, is facing a charge of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child along with two counts of child neglect.
A witness called 911 at approximately 8:23 p.m. October 14 after allegedly seeing Branch molest a 5-year-old child who resides at his home. According to the witness, the child was sitting on a couch with Branch, who appeared to be intoxicated and asked whether the child was wearing “panties.” The witness told authorities that Branch spread the child’s knees apart, placed his hand inside the child’s shorts and asked whether she liked what he was doing. The witness then left the residence and contacted police.
A Gainesville Police Department detective said the child’s behavior changed immediately when Branch was mentioned, with the child becoming quiet and withdrawn. When asked if anyone had told her to keep secrets, the child reportedly identified Branch and said she was not allowed to share those secrets with the detective.
The detective also reported finding several pipes and marijuana on tables in the living room, where they were accessible to both the 5-year-old and a 10-month-old child living at the residence.
According to the detective, the infant had been treated at a hospital in March for several injuries. Medical personnel did not determine how those injuries occurred at the time.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Branch reportedly told investigators that the 5-year-old said her “peach” was itching. He said he placed his fingers inside the child’s underwear to check whether she was clean, but denied touching her inappropriately, asking if she liked being touched or sexually abusing her.
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Branch told investigators he holds a medical marijuana card and acknowledged that several marijuana-filled pipes were in the living room. He also denied knowing what caused the infant’s injuries in March.
Branch was booked on one count of lewd or lascivious molestation of a minor and two counts of child neglect without great bodily harm. His local criminal record began with an October 2024 arrest after he was accused of pointing an AR-15-style rifle at a former girlfriend. He later pleaded nolo contendere to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Judge David Kreider withheld adjudication and sentenced Branch to six months in jail followed by three years of probation. He remains on probation in that case.
Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered Branch held without bail on the latest charges while the court considers a State Attorney’s Office request to keep him jailed without bail through trial. If that request is denied, the judge will determine bail at the hearing.
Arrest reports form the basis of articles about criminal cases. The charges described here come from law enforcement reports and/or court records and represent allegations only. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
