Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Richard Tobias Goines, Jr., 34, was arrested yesterday and charged with armed robbery for his part in a January 2025 incident in which the victim was sucker-punched and then beaten by two men before being robbed.

According to a sworn complaint from the Gainesville Police Department, at about 8:15 p.m. on January 10, the victim left G’Ville Seafood N’ Chicken (4310 SW 20th Avenue) and heard Goines call his name, prompting him to look in Goines’s direction. As his attention was directed toward Goines, a second unidentified man sucker-punched him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.

Goines and the other man allegedly kicked Goines in the ribs and back and then crouched down and punched him repeatedly. The victim said he saw a pistol in Goines’s waistband when he crouched down and Goines grabbed the pistol to try to keep it concealed. The victim said Goines told him multiple times he was about to “put that iron to you” while holding the gun; Goines also allegedly said to the other man, “Hey, cuh, run his pockets before I kill him.”

The victim said the other man took $200 and a phone from his pockets while Goines crouched over him, saying he would kill the victim if he didn’t empty his pockets, and then the two men left in a vehicle with his belongings.

The officer reported that the victim had injuries consistent with his story and did not report the incident until January 18 because he was afraid of retaliation from Goines, who he knew through a friend.

Goines has been charged with armed robbery. He has three felony convictions (two violent) and five misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in May 2022. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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