Gainesville man indicted on federal drug and gun charges

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Khalil Keari Barnett, 29, who was arrested in Gainesville in August, has been indicted on federal charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm and ammunition affecting interstate commerce.

On August 7, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call about a domestic battery, but Barnett was no longer at the scene; when deputies found him, he allegedly ran, and deputies reportedly saw him discard a firearm and a large bag of marijuana.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced about 16.4 grams of marijuana and a box of ammunition with 13 bullets on Barnett’s person; a Glock 42 with six rounds of ammunition and a shopping bag containing over one pound of marijuana were reportedly found along Barnett’s path.

Post Miranda, Barnett reportedly said that he and the victim had engaged in a verbal argument and nothing ever became physical, but he later said he “acted off reflex” to get the victim away from him. He reportedly said he fled because he did not want to “catch a domestic” charge and that he ran when he saw deputies because he knew it was “time to go to jail.” He reportedly said the discarded marijuana was his and that it was all for personal use because he “smokes a lot of weed.”

Barnett was originally charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school/child care facility, two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, tampering with evidence, battery with a prior battery conviction (a felony), and resisting an officer without violence. He has juvenile convictions between 2008 and 2014, one adult felony conviction (non-violent), and four adult misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2021. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $256,000, and Barnett has remained in the Alachua County Jail.

Formal state charges have been filed for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, domestic battery with a prior conviction, and resisting an officer without violence. He is currently scheduled to change his plea on November 18.

Meanwhile, he was indicted in federal court on November 4 on three charges: possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm and ammunition affecting interstate commerce; the third count states that he possessed a pistol and ammunition, and “[t]his firearm and ammunition had previously been transported in interstate commerce.” A federal judge has ordered him held without bail until trial.

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.