Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kevin Alexander Esworthy, 30, has been charged with violating probation and new charges of selling marijuana and possession of firearms after officers reported finding over 24 pounds of marijuana in his apartment.

At about 1:13 p.m. on March 16, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to a report of shots fired at Arbor Park Apartments (307 SW 16th Ave.). During a safety sweep of the apartment, an officer reported seeing two firearms and large quantities of marijuana on the closet floor. The arresting officer wrote that he asked that officer if he could estimate how much marijuana was in plain view, and the officer said, “The most I have ever seen.”

Esworthy was arrested that afternoon for violating probation.

Officers requested a search warrant for the apartment, and the search reportedly produced a loaded 9mm pistol, a loaded 9mm magazine, a loaded AK-47-style rifle, 30 rounds of 5.45 ammunition, about 382 ounces of marijuana, another 9 ounces of assorted packaged THC products, cannabis seeds, $679 in cash, empty vacuum-seal bags, and a hand-written journal containing drug literature.

The apartment is leased by a woman, but the officer noted that no female clothing was found in the apartment and it was apparent that Esworthy was the only full-time resident.

Post Miranda, Esworthy reportedly admitted that all the marijuana was his but the firearms belonged to the woman.

The officer noted that the trafficking amount for marijuana is 25 pounds and the total of 24.4 pounds was just under the limit.

Esworthy has been charged with violating probation, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, and maintaining a drug dwelling. He has four felony convictions (three violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (none violent) and is on drug offender probation for possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana; he has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2017.

Judge Adam Lee ordered him held without bail until the probation violation is resolved, and Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $250,000 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.