GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Marqui Allen Branch, 31, faces charges of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child and two counts of child neglect.
At approximately 8:23 p.m. on October 14, a witness called 911 and reported seeing Branch allegedly molesting a five-year-old child who lives at his residence. According to the witness, the child was sitting on a couch with Branch, who appeared to be intoxicated and asked whether the child was wearing “panties.” The witness told police that Branch forced the child’s knees apart, placed his hand inside the child’s shorts and asked whether she “liked it” when he did that. The witness said she left the home immediately and contacted authorities.
A Gainesville Police Department detective said the child’s behavior changed as soon as Branch was mentioned, becoming quiet and withdrawn. When asked whether anyone had told her to keep secrets, the child reportedly identified Branch and said she could not reveal the secrets to the detective.
The detective also reported finding multiple pipes and marijuana on tables in the living room, where they were accessible to both the five-year-old and a 10-month-old child who also resides in the home.
Investigators learned that the infant had been taken to a hospital in March for treatment of multiple injuries. No cause for those injuries had been determined at the time, according to the detective.
After being read his Miranda rights, Branch reportedly told investigators that the five-year-old had complained that her “peach” was itching. He said he put his fingers inside her underwear to check whether she was clean. Branch denied touching the child in a sexual manner, asking whether she liked being touched or otherwise abusing her sexually.
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Branch said he has a medical marijuana card and acknowledged that several pipes containing marijuana were in the living room. He also denied knowing how the infant sustained the injuries reported in March.
Branch is charged with lewd or lascivious molestation of a minor and two counts of child neglect without great bodily harm. His local criminal record began with an October 2024 arrest after he was accused of pointing an AR-15-style rifle at an ex-girlfriend. Branch later pleaded nolo contendere to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Judge David Kreider withheld adjudication and sentenced him to six months in jail followed by three years of probation. He remains on probation in that case.
Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered Branch held without bail on the new charges while awaiting a State Attorney’s Office motion seeking to keep him jailed without bail through trial. If the motion is denied, the judge will set bail at the hearing.