Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Larance Devonte Scott, 23, who has been in the Alachua County Jail since last July, has been charged with grand theft and other charges after allegedly fraudulently obtaining another inmate’s debit card from the property custodian at the jail and giving it to a friend to try to post bail and buy items.

The victim posted bail on April 16 and reported that items were missing from his property. When the victim reported this to staff at the jail, they showed him a Property Release Authorization that authorized the release of his wallet and bank cards to a woman; he said he did not know the woman and had not authorized the release of his property to her.

An investigation found that Scott had obtained the personal identification number of the victim and forged the victim’s signature on the form. He was charged with criminal use of personal identification information and forgery for those alleged offenses.

Scott also allegedly solicited the woman to try to use the credit cards with a local bondsman to give the bondsman $4,000, with an agreement to make weekly payments to make up the remainder of the amount (Scott was being held on $100,000 bail). Scott has been charged with attempted grand theft over $750 for that offense.

The credit cards were reportedly declined at the bondsman’s office, so Scott allegedly encouraged the woman to buy fuel with the credit cards, and the woman reportedly $50 in gas and two commissary packages for Scott ($80) with the credit cards. By monitoring recordings of calls that Scott made from the jail, investigators determined that the woman was unaware that Scott was engaging in fraudulent activity. Scott has been charged with criminal solicitation for recruiting the woman to make purchases with the cards, fraudulent use of credit cards, and petit theft for these offenses.

Judge Thomas Jaworski added $30,000 to Scott’s bail for the new charges. He is currently awaiting trial on a charge of lewd/lascivious molestation of a child under 18, along with 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.