Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Michael Joseph Buccino, Jr., 41, was arrested last night and charged with battery of a disabled person.

At around 8:33 p.m. on July 17, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to The Crossing at Santa Fe Apartments (3205 NW 83rd Street). The victim recounted sitting in his car’s driver’s seat, with a foot extended out of the door, when Buccino abruptly crossed the street, became “loud,” and started hitting and kicking the car. The victim stated he warned Buccino not to touch his car, which led to Buccino pushing the car door against his shin. The victim is an adult with a disability.

A witness reportedly directed deputies to Buccino’s location on a nearby balcony, with the victim confirming that Buccino was indeed the person who attacked him. Another witness allegedly observed Buccino closing the car door on the victim’s foot.

Post Miranda, Buccino reportedly did not want to answer any questions.

Buccino has been charged with battery on a disabled adult. He has one felony conviction (violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent).

Buccino faced an arrest for domestic aggravated battery in January 2024, resulting in a three-year probation sentence in March 2024, although guilt was not formally adjudicated. He breached his probation in April 2024 due to THC presence in his urine; in May 2024, Judge David Kreider reinstated his probation with conditions to undergo a substance abuse assessment and submit to random drug tests. Another probation violation occurred in November 2024 as Buccino failed to complete a required batterer’s intervention program; the course instructor informed his probation officer that Buccino made “inappropriate and hostile remarks… during sessions,” leading to a ban from returning. The probation officer noted that when attempting to communicate with Buccino, he “spoke in incoherent riddles and made unsettling comments about his surroundings erratically.”

In January 2025, Judge Kreider reinstated his probation after a jail sentence of 89 days with credit for 89 days served and ordered him to enroll in a batterer’s intervention course within 30 days.

Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $40,000 on the new charges.

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.