Gainesville man arrested for battery after allegedly propositioning lawncare worker

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Miguel Angel Rodriguez-Morgado, 57, was arrested yesterday after allegedly touching a lawncare worker’s genitals and propositioning him.

At about 4:46 p.m. on September 7, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to Rodriguez-Morgado’s home, where the victim said he had been doing landscape work for Rodriguez-Morgado when Rodriguez-Morgado began flirting with him and offered him money to stay.

The victim said that after he told Rodriguez-Morgado he wasn’t interested, he started to leave, but Rodriguez-Morgado grabbed his arm and put some cash in his pocket; while doing so, he said, Rodriguez-Morgado put his hand on the victim’s genitals. The victim said he moved away and left the property before calling 911.

Post Miranda, Rodriguez-Morgado reportedly admitted to touching the victim’s arm but denied grabbing his genitals.

Rodriguez-Morgado has been charged with simple battery. He has no criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $10,000.

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.