Staff report

HAWTHORNE, Fla. – Jonathan James Russel Sweat, 34, was arrested early yesterday morning after deputies responded to a call about a man lying in the road with a short-barreled rifle on his chest.

At about 6:30 a.m. on April 6, Alachua County Fire Rescue and Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 18100 block of SW 243rd Street, where they found Sweat lying on his back in the road with a short-barreled rifle on his chest. Deputies took the firearm from Sweat so EMS could provide aid.

Deputies reported that the rifle had a barrel length of about three inches (the legal minimum is 16 inches), and the serial number had been removed. The rifle was loaded with nine 9mm rounds.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a small glass pipe that is typically used for smoking illegal narcotics.

Sweat was transported to an emergency room and admitted to the hospital.

He has been charged with possession of a short-barreled rifle, 10 counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, removing the serial number on a firearm, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also booked on warrants for driving without a valid license and violating probation.

Sweat has six felony convictions (none violent) and nine misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2013. He is on probation for driving without a valid license, and he was sentenced to a fine on charges of battery and possession of drug paraphernalia in a 2024 case but has not paid any of the fine.

The warrant for violating probation specified that Sweat be held without bond, and the other set bail at $10,000. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $177,000 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.