Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jacari Quashon Robinson, 31, was taken into custody last night when a traffic stop led to the discovery of a stolen gun in his possession; he also faced a warrant related to allegedly striking a Newberry resident on his porch in September 2024.
Around 9:50 p.m. on August 29, a deputy from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office performed a traffic stop on the 2400 block of E. University Avenue as a vehicle did not completely stop before joining the road. Robinson was a passenger at the time.
The vehicle’s occupants were asked to step out due to the scent of marijuana detected by the deputy, during which Robinson reportedly admitted he had a firearm on him—a Springfield XD9 pistol reported stolen from Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 2012. The gun was equipped with an extended magazine and contained 17 rounds.
A search incident to arrest reportedly produced about 4.19 grams of marijuana hidden in Robinson’s underwear.
After being informed of his Miranda rights, Robinson allegedly stated he bought the gun from a co-worker in Atlanta roughly two years ago. Although he disclosed working with the colleague for about four months, he couldn’t provide identifiable information, price details, only mentioning he paid via an app named Chime. Robinson suggested he could find transaction proof but later claimed he couldn’t access it because his phone was “turned off.”
Robinson was also tagged with a warrant related to an event from September 16, 2024. The victim recounted being on his Newberry porch on September 13, enjoying a game and cards, when Robinson appeared without notice, entered the area, and punched him. Deputies, meeting with the victim on September 16, observed noticeable swelling on his face. A witness backed the victim’s account, and the victim mentioned knowing Robinson for many years.
Facing charges, Robinson is accused of burglary involving battery, grand theft of a firearm, and possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana. He holds one felony record (withheld adjudication) for exceeding 20 grams of marijuana in a 2017 case and was detained in 2022 for illegally carrying a hidden firearm, though that charge was eventually dismissed.
Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $26,000 on the new charges and ordered him held without bail on the burglary with battery charge, 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.
