Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kelvin Bolton, 57, who was released from prison on March 2 after serving a two-year sentence for felony petit theft and fraudulent voting, was arrested on April 24 and has been charged with multiple cases of felony petit theft, along with indecent exposure and dealing in stolen property.

Church thefts

The first case involves thefts from The Rock Church and Queen of Peace in July 2023. A pastor at The Rock told an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy that a man had come to him and asked for “prayers and money,” but the pastor said he told him the staff member he needed to speak to was out of town. The pastor watched the man walk away and thought he had left the property, but a staff member told him a few hours later that her wallet was missing from her purse. Surveillance video reportedly showed that the same man had entered the building through doors that “should have been secured but weren’t.” The cameras also reportedly showed the man going through a student’s bag and taking $16 in cash, along with clothing from the merchandise shop near the school cafeteria. The staff member also reported that a bag had been taken.

Deputies made contact with Queen of Peace church, which is near The Rock, and staff members told them that a man had also come to them, asking for a ride to the bus stop. They said the man identified himself as “KT.” The receptionist said she left her desk to find someone to help the man, and after a male staff member gave “KT” a ride downtown, she found that her phone and wallet were missing. Staff members told the deputy that “KT” was carrying a bag matching the description of the one taken from The Rock.

The deputy identified the man in the videos as Bolton, “a known prolific offender within the community.” Staff members from both churches reportedly identified Bolton in a photo line-up “quickly and without hesitation.” At the time, Bolton was on pre-trial release for fraudulent voting.

Bolton has been formally charged with two counts of felony petit theft in that case, although he has not been booked on those charges. He is scheduled for arraignment in that case next week.

CVS theft in March 2024

A little over two weeks after being released from prison, Bolton allegedly placed about $119 in items from a CVS (1621 SW 13th St.) in a backpack with the intent of stealing them. A formal charge of felony petit theft has been filed in the case, but Bolton has not been booked on the charge yet. He is scheduled to be arraigned in that case next week.

Lowe’s theft and indecent exposure in March 2024

On May 2, a Gainesville Police Department was at Lowe’s (2564 NW 13th St.), reviewing video from a separate case involving Bolton, when an employee told him there was an incident they had not yet reported to law enforcement. Staff members showed the officer video from March 27 that showed Bolton entering Lowe’s through the garden center, wearing a backpack and carrying a bag. He allegedly took a chainsaw from a shelf, removed the chainsaw and battery pack from the box, then hid the items on top of other merchandise on a shelf.

Bolton allegedly looked back at a woman who was a short distance away, pulled his genitals out of his pants, and began walking through the store while masturbating, with his genitals fully exposed. After some time, he reportedly pulled his pants back up, went back and put the chainsaw box back where it had been, then picked up the unboxed chainsaw and battery pack.

Bolton allegedly went into the garden center, placed the items on a counter, and complained to an employee about how the customer service desk refused to give him a refund without a receipt before picking up the items and walking out of the store without paying for the items.

Bolton was booked on charges in this case on May 9, and bail was set at $70,000.

2nd & Charles theft in April 2024

On April 23, a Gainesville Police Department Officer responded to 2nd & Charles (2601 NW 13th St.), where Bolton allegedly removed music CDs from the shelf, put them in his pockets, and walked out without paying for them. Bolton reportedly walked back into the store, where the officer spoke to him, and he reportedly pulled out three CDs and said they belonged to the store. Bolton reportedly gave consent for a search, and the officer reportedly found a playing card deck in his pocket.

Post Miranda, Bolton reportedly said he went to the store to look for Mariah Carey music and admitted to stealing the CDs. He reportedly apologized and said, “My mind tells me it’s okay because you can never have enough” and “I do not have any money to pay for it.” Bolton was released at the scene with a sworn complaint charge but was arrested the next day. A formal charge has been filed in this case, and bail has been set at $5,000.

Lowe’s theft in April 2024

On April 23, officers asked employees at TB Goods pawn shop to keep an eye out for Bolton, who they believed might be trying to pawn items he had stolen. On April 24, Bolton reportedly brought a jigsaw to the pawn shop, still in its original packaging.

An officer learned that the specific model of jigsaw is only sold at Lowe’s, so he contacted the Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) at the Lowe’s on NW 13th St. The LPO reviewed surveillance video and reportedly saw Bolton stealing a jigsaw from the store on the same day, wearing the same clothes Bolton was wearing at the pawn shop. In the video, Bolton can reportedly be seen removing the jigsaw and its packaging from the box and leaving the empty box on the shelf before putting the jigsaw in his backpack.

Formal charges have been filed, and Bolton is being held without bail in this case.

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.