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Marlin D. Roper, aged 32, has been sentenced to 22 months in state prison, followed by a three-year probation period, after pleading no contest to charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Gainesville, Florida.
On October 15, 2025, law enforcement officers from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to an incident on SW 13th Street, where a woman reported an alarming altercation. The victim recounted that a text message argument with Roper escalated when he confronted her at her workplace, bringing along a two-month-old infant. As she left work, Roper allegedly pursued her and deliberately crashed into her vehicle multiple times. The damage to her car corroborated her account when examined by the deputy.
Roper was later located at a relative’s home, where deputies found his vehicle in the yard with noticeable front-end damage matching the description provided by the victim. The vehicle’s engine was still warm, and Roper had the keys in his possession, further supporting the victim’s allegations.
In court, Roper opted to enter a plea of nolo contendere, or no contest, to the aggravated assault charge. Under the plea agreement, a potential child abuse charge was dismissed, and it was noted that the maximum penalty for the assault charge could have been 15 years in prison.
Today, Roper entered a plea of nolo contendere to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; according to the plea document, the maximum sentence for the charge is 15 years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, a child abuse charge was dropped.
Roper was adjudicated guilty, and Judge James Colaw sentenced him to 22 months in state prison with 13 days’ credit, followed by three years of probation. Roper must also complete a batterers’ intervention program, obtain a mental health evaluation and follow any recommended treatment plan, have no contact with the victim, and have no unsupervised contact with minors.