19-year-old on house arrest charged with dealing drugs near a school

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Damorie Lamontay Miles, 19, was arrested yesterday for selling marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school. He is currently on house arrest for possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent.

A Gainesville Police Department officer reported that a search warrant was obtained for Miles’s social media accounts as part of a shooting investigation; based on what was found, another search warrant was obtained for Miles’s residence at Square One Apartments (1800 NW 4th Street), just west of the Sidney Lanier Center.

The search warrant was served on September 3, and Miles was reportedly in the apartment. The officer reported that his bedroom was identified by all of his belongings, including his wallet and jail paperwork, and about 130.7 grams of marijuana was found in a bathroom that was only accessible from his bedroom. The search also reportedly produced a digital scale and $980 in cash.

Miles reportedly told officers that he does not have a job and his income is from a check from the government, but he could not explain the amount or how he receives the payments.

The officer noted that Miles’s social media accounts showed him with large quantities of marijuana, similarly packaged to the marijuana found during the search. Direct messages reportedly contained conversations about the pricing and availability of marijuana and arrangements to sell marijuana to various individuals.

Miles has been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell it within 1,000 feet of a school, and he was also booked for violating probation in a previous case.

Miles was arrested in 2023, when he was 17, and charged as an adult with possession of oxycodone, possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent, and possession of a firearm by a minor under 18. He entered a plea of nolo contendere to the first two charges (both felonies), and the third charge was dropped. Judge James Colaw sentenced him in March 2024 to 364 days in jail with credit for 58 days served, followed by a year of community control (house arrest) and then three years of drug offender probation.

In June 2025, Miles sent a letter to Judge Colaw, asking for early termination of his community control. In the letter, he wrote, “I fully acknowledge the seriousness of my offense and have used this time under supervision to reflect, grow, and make meaningful changes in my life… I have maintained consistent employment… I have taken steps to better myself and be a positive contributor to my community and family… I am requesting early termination so that I can continue to move forward in my life with fewer restrictions, pursue additional employment and personal opportunities, and continue to be a law-abiding, productive member of society.” Judge Colaw denied the request.

Miles has juvenile convictions between 2019 and 2024, along with the two adult felonies. Judge Adam Lee ordered him held without bail until the probation violations are resolved, and he set bail at $100,000 on the new charge.

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.