Reported by Staff

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A 23-year-old man, Zion Motheus Ward, was taken into custody yesterday following accusations that he sent threatening text messages to a former girlfriend, in which he allegedly menaced her and her unborn child with violence.

The incident reportedly took place on August 8, when Ward is said to have sent a series of alarming text messages. One of these messages ominously stated, “ima shoot you and yo baby.” The woman involved expressed a deep fear for her safety and that of her unborn child, citing Ward’s history of violence and capability to act on his threats.

Ward faces charges for making a written threat to kill. He was also arrested on an outstanding warrant related to a probation violation.

Ward’s legal troubles date back to September 2024, when he was arrested for domestic battery and false imprisonment. While the false imprisonment charge was dropped, he entered a plea of nolo contendere to the battery charge, resulting in a one-year probation sentence handed down by Judge William Davis. In August 2025, Ward sought early probation termination, but complications arose when the victim from the previous case reported hostile interactions and theft by Ward in July. Consequently, a warrant for his arrest was issued on September 4, leading to his arrest in Orlando on September 15. However, his attorney stated that he was subsequently released due to a failure to be picked up by Alachua authorities.

Currently, Judge Jonathan Ramsey has ordered Ward to be held without bail pending a hearing. The State Attorney’s office has filed a motion to keep him in custody until his trial. Should the judge reject this motion, bail will be determined at the upcoming 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.