Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Aziel Dejayn BrownGainey, 22, and Montrell Cervonté Carter, 22, have been charged with battery on a person detained in a jail facility after allegedly attacking an inmate who was on the phone.

At about 12:21 p.m. on Sunday, BrownGainey and Carter allegedly walked up to another inmate who was on the phone; the victim reportedly took off his shirt and threw it on the ground, then Carter allegedly started punching him, and the victim hit Carter in self-defense. BrownGainey allegedly joined in, punching the victim multiple times, and then the victim was pushed over a railing and down some stairs.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy who responded to the jail reported that video of the incident showed the victim sitting down, talking on the phone, when Carter approached him and attacked him, and then BrownGainey joined in. The deputy’s report states that the victim was “pushed over a railing down stairs located inside the cell block” but did not indicate which defendant allegedly pushed the victim.

The victim reportedly told the deputy that when Carter approached, he knew he was going to start a fight because of what he said as he approached. He said he took off his shirt in preparation for the fight. He said he hit his head on something when he was pushed down the stairs, and the deputy reported that he had swelling above his eyebrow and his nose was bleeding.

Post Miranda, BrownGainey reportedly declined to speak with the deputy.

Carter reportedly said he’d gotten into a fight with the victim over “petty stuff,” but he declined to answer any questions post Miranda.

BrownGainey has been in the Alachua County Jail since October 2022 on charges of first-degree homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide in connection with a September 2022 murder at Gardenia Gardens. Judge Susan Miller-Jones added $50,000 bail on the new charge, but BrownGainey is being held without bail on other charges.

Carter was arrested in October 2021 and has charges in seven other cases; the charges include racketeering, armed robbery, and sexual assault on a victim between the ages of 12 and 18. Judge Miller-Jones added $50,000 bail on the new charge, but Carter is being held without bail on other 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.