Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jesse Charles Smith, 48, who was arrested last September after hotwiring an excavator, driving it through multiple properties in an industrial park, and then entering Walmart holding a machete, has been sentenced to ten years in prison, followed by ten years of probation.

On September 11, 2023, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to a call about an armed disturbance at the Walmart at Butler Plaza at about 8:07 p.m. and found the excavator behind the store and extensive damage to the building. Their investigation found that Smith hotwired a Komatsu excavator worth about $350,000 that belonged to Watson Construction, drove into at least four buildings belonging to Watson Construction, extended the boom of the excavator onto a roof to inflict additional damage, and then drove through a chain-link fence.

Smith then drove the excavator through a fence on the property of Storage Depot of Gainesville, causing additional underground damage; he also hit a utility pole, which fell to the ground with live wires.

Next, Smith drove through the parking lot at Swamp City Fitness, causing additional damage.

Finally, Smith turned toward the Walmart parking lot, knocked over a light pole, damaged a loading dock, and drove the excavator into the south side of the Walmart building, causing extensive exterior damage.

Smith got out of the excavator at that point and entered Walmart, armed with a machete. He dropped the machete, which was later recovered by officers, before officers made contact with him. Smith also allegedly resisted being placed into handcuffs.

After speaking with representatives of the damaged businesses, officers estimated that the damage is about $2 million.

Yesterday, Smith entered a plea of nolo contendere to grand theft over $100,000, four counts of property damage over $1,000, trespassing while armed, and felony petit theft, all felonies. The misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer was dropped. The plea agreement states that the maximum sentence for the charges is 60 years in prison; Smith’s attorney requested 42.225 months in prison, followed by probation that would include rehab and restitution.

Judge William Davis sentenced Smith to ten years in prison, with credit for 217 days served, on the grand theft charge; the other charges have sentences of five years each, all served concurrently with the ten-year sentence. Restitution hearings for the various victims will be held at a future date.