19-year-old on probation charged with molesting preschooler
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Devin Christopher DeCoursey, 19, was arrested yesterday on two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation of a preschooler and was also charged with cocaine possession; he is on probation for three previous criminal cases.
A Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer’s investigation found that DeCoursey had touched the preschool child’s genitals over clothing in early September. On September 14, the reporting party learned that the child had said DeCoursey had touched her “pee-pee” and reported this to law enforcement the same day. Officers responded on that date, interviewed DeCoursey, and released him, pending further investigation.
On September 18, the child was interviewed by the Child Advocacy Center, and the child reportedly said DeCoursey made her feel scared and that he had hurt her in the area of her genitals. The interviewer reported positive findings for sexual molestation/abuse.
DeCoursey was asked to come to GPD Headquarters on October 6 for an interview, but he reportedly declined. On October 16, GPD developed probable cause to charge him with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, and officers with the Gun Violence Unit found him behind the Food Max store (1304 E. University Avenue). A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a plastic baggie containing coins and about 1.4 grams of marijuana, and a second baggie with about 2.6 grams of cocaine was found in his pants leg.
Post Miranda, DeCoursey reportedly said he was holding the crack cocaine for someone else and that it was for personal use. DeCoursey was not charged with marijuana possession.
Post Miranda on the lewd or lascivious molestation charges, DeCoursey reportedly denied touching the child in her private areas or hurting her at any time.
DeCoursey has been charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation and possession of a controlled substance. He has juvenile convictions between 2020 and 2024 and four adult felony convictions (two violent). He is on probation in three separate cases on charges of possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent (committed when he was 17 but charged as an adult), battery by a person detained in a jail facility, battery of a detention staff member, and property damage. He was arrested in December 2024 for allegedly stealing a vehicle and drug possession, but those charges were later dropped, although he was on probation at the time of that arrest.
Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered DeCoursey held without bail on the probation violation cases until they are resolved, and she ordered him held without bail on the molestation charges, 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. Judge Miller-Jones also set bail at $10,000 for the drug possession 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.
Mininum sentence in Florida is 25 years and he deserves that and more if he’s found guilty.
WTH is wrong with these judges? The law protects the criminals in Alachua County.
I did look up our 3 strikes law and apparently we have one but it’s very weak and the court doesn’t have to implement it. Basically it’s just longer sentencing at the discretion of the court.
District 1 culture
This is a PERFECT example of our court system here protecting one of their own and to hell with everyone else they don’t know, BECAUSE it’s a big club and we ain’t in it!! Joel decoursey is a retired police chief from Alachua PD and high springs police department for a brief time before antwan Sheppard took the position, which means this stupid kid is getting treated with kit gloves and not getting ABSOLUTELY HAMMERED like they did to me 5 times now in 10 almost 11 years now after being falsely arrested and conspired against by the cops, da and public pretender aubroncee martin the last time, 4 outta the 5 times!!
They’re ALL about protecting and covering up for their fellow gang members!!
“He was arrested in December 2024 for allegedly stealing a vehicle and drug possession, but those charges were later dropped, although he was on probation at the time of that arrest.”
Who was the judge in that case?
Let DeCoursey babysit their kids.