Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Rodney Lee Gillis, 43, was arrested yesterday and charged with sexual battery after a woman at GRACE Marketplace said she had been raped.

The victim told a responding Gainesville Police Department officer that her grandfather dropped her off at GRACE about five days ago to live there with a female relative, and she had been living in a tent at GRACE since then. She said other residents of GRACE have said her relative has been selling sex with her for drugs, but she said that had not been directly confirmed with her relative.

The victim said that on the day of the sexual battery, a man she knew as “Rod” approached her and her relative, and she went into her tent with the man but thought they were going to talk. Instead, she said, the man pushed her down, held her down, and sexually battered her. She said she repeatedly told him to stop, but he continued.

A witness helped the officer identify Gillis, who was arrested yesterday afternoon. Post Miranda, he reportedly said he had arrived at GRACE on August 9 and was introduced to the victim by her relative that same day. He said he went into his tent alone with the victim and they had consensual sex. He reportedly said the victim’s relative was “right outside the tent” while he was inside the tent with the victim for about 30 minutes.

Gillis has at least seven felony convictions (two violent) and eight misdemeanor convictions (two violent). He has served three prison sentences, with the first two out of Alachua County and the third for selling cocaine in Duval County; he was last released in June 2023. Judge Kristine Van Vorst ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion by the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial.

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.