17-year-old with 15 adult felony convictions arrested for drug possession; 18-year-old companion arrested for carrying concealed firearm

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Joshua Edward Brown, Jr., 18, and Theodore Isaiah Martin, 17, were arrested early this morning; Brown was charged with unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm, and Martin was arrested on a warrant for violating probation and charged with drug possession and giving a false name to an officer.

At about 1:20 a.m. on October 27, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies were trying to locate a stolen vehicle that was last seen on Tower Road when they saw two people wearing black clothing and ski masks walking along the sidewalk on Tower Road. The arresting deputy noted that there have been recent reports of burglaries and car thefts in the Tower Road corridor, and the suspects have been described as matching the builds of Brown and Martin and wearing black clothing with masks.

The deputy reported that both suspects told him they were juveniles, and he noted that he could see part of a handgun in the front pocket of Brown’s hoodie.

A search of Brown reportedly produced a Cobra .380 handgun loaded with seven rounds. Brown has a juvenile conviction that prohibits him from possessing firearms until he is 24.

Martin reportedly told the deputy his name was Deshawn A. Martin, but the deputy discovered his correct name and found that he was wanted for violating an adult probation sentence for a three-hour burglary spree when he was 16; Martin’s probation officer filed an affidavit in July that said Martin had not reported as required in June or July and had moved without providing his new address.

A search of Martin reportedly produced eight Oxycodone Hydrochloride pills that were prescribed to someone else.

Post Miranda, both Brown and Martin reportedly declined to answer any questions.

Brown was charged with unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent, and possession of ammunition by an adjudicated delinquent; he has a juvenile conviction on a charge that would be a felony for an adult. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $100,000.

Martin was charged with providing false identification to law enforcement and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, along with the warrant for violating probation. Martin pled nolo contendere to 14 adult felonies in the burglary case (along with 8 misdemeanors) and although one of them carried a potential life sentence, Judge David Kreider sentenced him to 364 days in jail, followed by 10 years of probation, with all sentences served concurrently. He was later convicted of a fifteenth felony, battery by a detainee, and sentenced to time served. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail.

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.