GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Robert Eugene White IV, aged 23, found himself under arrest yesterday following serious allegations of sexual assault. The charges stem from an incident that reportedly took place in the early hours of February 6.
According to the victim’s account provided to the Gainesville Police Department, she awoke around 4:30 a.m. to discover White allegedly assaulting her. In the aftermath of this distressing event, she managed to push him away. White then fled from her bedroom, seeking refuge by barricading himself in a bathroom. However, he soon exited the apartment barefoot before law enforcement could arrive at the scene.
A witness recounted confronting White after the victim accused him of the assault. White emerged from the bathroom, repeatedly apologizing, before making a hasty exit from the premises. Evidence of his hurried departure was noted by officers who discovered a backpack along with his shoes, socks, and pants left behind.
Authorities later made contact with White via telephone. During the conversation, he acknowledged leaving his backpack at the victim’s residence and admitted to abandoning his scooter at the complex’s entrance. He also mentioned that he had summoned an Uber for his escape. White reportedly agreed to visit the Gainesville Police Department to retrieve his belongings, yet failed to appear. His arrest followed the next day.
The officer reported that White had left behind a backpack and his shoes, socks, and pants, indicating that he had left in a hurry.
An officer spoke with White by phone, and White reportedly confirmed that he had left his backpack at the victim’s apartment and had also left his scooter at the front entrance of the complex, so he called an Uber after leaving the apartment. He reportedly agreed to come to the Gainesville Police Department to get his backpack, but he did not show up; he was arrested a day later.
Post Miranda, White reportedly declined to speak to officers.
White has been charged with sexual battery. He has no local criminal history, and Judge Mitchell Bishop ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
