Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have detained 42-year-old Christopher Jermaine Bolton following accusations of indecent exposure in the presence of two children, an infant, and two adults at a local bus stop.

Just around 4 p.m. on October 29, which coincidentally marked Bolton’s birthday, an officer from the Gainesville Police Department responded to an incident at the intersection of NE 8th Avenue and NE 17th Street. A concerned woman and her children had approached a man who appeared to be ill and vomiting. One child later informed the officer that the man had revealed his “thing,” clarifying that she meant his genitals, which she had clearly seen. Another child mentioned he did not witness this, while a third was an infant and unable to comment.

The children’s mother recounted to the officer that upon checking on the man’s well-being, he replied, “No, I just want to f***,” before exposing himself.

Meanwhile, across the street, another adult had already dialed 911, hoping to get assistance for the man due to his apparent sickness. She reported to the officer that from her vantage point, she could clearly see his genitals.

Post Miranda, the man, identified as Bolton, reportedly said that when the woman stopped to talk to him, she said he did something to her children. When the officer asked what he meant by that, he said he did not know. When asked whether he had exposed himself at any time, he said he did not; when asked why two adults and a child would say he did, he still reportedly denied exposing himself.

Bolton, a registered sexual predator whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has been charged with three counts of attempted lewd and lascivious exhibition and two counts of indecent exposure. He has two felony convictions (both sexual) and has served two state prison sentences, including a sentence of almost 15 years for lewd and lascivious molestation and attempted sexual battery of a victim under 12; he was most recently released from prison in 2022. He was arrested in August 2025 for failing to report an email address, and he entered into a deferred prosecution agreement that would have dismissed the charge if he complied with the terms (including refraining from violating any laws) of the agreement for six months.

Judge Meshon Rawls 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.