Archer man arrested for battery and threatening to kill victim if she reported the incident

Staff report

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Earnest O. Daniels III, 38, was arrested yesterday morning for allegedly touching a woman in an inappropriate way in January and then threatening to kill her and her immediate family with a gun if she reported the incident. He is also facing a sworn complaint for driving under the influence in November 2025 and a separate allegation of lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim under the age of 12.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy reported that on January 24, the victim was at Daniels’ residence, hanging out with him and a third person. The victim said Daniels said things to her that made her uncomfortable and touched her in inappropriate ways. She said he moved away from him, but he followed her, constantly saying that he wanted her. She said she told him that what he was doing was wrong and said their mutual family members would find out, but Daniels insisted no one would know. When the victim said others would find out, Daniels became angry and said that if the victim told anyone, he would shoot at her home in an attempt to harm her and her immediate family.

A witness reportedly told the deputy that Daniels has an old, rusted pump-action shotgun that is difficult to load. The witness said he did not believe that Daniels intended to harm anyone but probably made the threat to intimidate the victim into silence.

Daniels was reportedly warned by a family member that a deputy was speaking with the victim, and Daniels left his residence and was not found until yesterday.

Post Miranda, Daniels declined to speak with the deputy.

Daniels has been charged with battery with a previous battery conviction and threatening a witness in an attempt to get the witness to withhold testimony. He has five misdemeanor convictions (four violent), and he is facing a DUI charge from November 2025 and a sworn complaint with two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim under the age of 12 that was filed in December (no further information is currently available about that case, and he has not been booked on those charges). Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $150,000.

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.