Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Orvil Eugene Stone, Jr., 53, was arrested yesterday for allegedly stealing 27 cans of beer from a convenience store; he has also been charged with stealing a car a few days before his arrest.

At about 6:11 p.m. on December 15, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a report of a theft at the Maa & Paa store (6410 SW 8th Avenue) and found Stone a few blocks away. The deputy reported that when Stone saw him, he quickly entered the Shellrock Villas apartment complex, and when the deputy turned into that complex, Stone started running. The deputy reported that Stone jumped a wooden privacy fence into a retention pond and continued running.

Other deputies found Stone, who allegedly refused commands to stop before being taken into custody. A search reportedly produced a glass pipe used to smoke narcotics.

A representative of Maa & Paa said Stone entered the store, walked straight to the beer cooler, picked out a 15-pack of Natural Ice and a 12-pack of Heineken beer cans, and walked out without paying. The beer was valued at $41.91. The store provided pictures from surveillance video that reportedly showed a clear photo of Stone’s face, and he was wearing the same clothes as he was when he was arrested.

Stone has two previous convictions for theft and has been charged with felony petit theft with two or more prior convictions, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting an officer without violence.

Stone has also been charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle. A second arrest report noted that a vehicle reported stolen on December 13 in Alachua County was found parked at Majestic Oaks Apartments.

The victim told the deputy that she suspected Stone, her neighbor’s son, of stealing the car and said he’s been trying to sell things to her and other neighbors.

Deputies reportedly watched surveillance video from Majestic Oaks and saw a black man getting out of the vehicle; one camera reportedly caught a clear picture of his face.

Stone has ten felony convictions (five violent) and eight misdemeanor conviction (one violent); he has served four state prison sentences, with his most recent release in July 2023.

Stone was arrested on November 2 for domestic aggravated battery after allegedly hitting a woman with a wooden dowel. The State Attorney’s office filed a motion for pre-trial detention without bail, and Judge Phillip Pena granted the motion. Stone remained in the Alachua County Jail until December 10, when his public defender filed a motion to release him on his own recognizance, saying the State Attorney’s office had informed the defense that it would not be able to file official charges within 40 days of his arrest. Judge William Davis ordered Stone released on his own recognizance because 40 days had elapsed without formal charges being filed.

Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $42,500 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.