Homeless man on probation arrested for breaking window of church to enter

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ernest Ellsworth Green, 68, was arrested yesterday after allegedly breaking a window at a church and entering through the broken window; he was released from the Alachua County Jail six days ago and is on probation.

At about noon on December 12, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a call about a burglary at Passage Ministries (5000 E. University Avenue). The deputy confirmed that there was a broken window on the back side of the building, with pieces of broken glass inside the building.

Verbal announcements were made before entering the church, but there was no response, and Green was reportedly found lying in an office and apprehended after a K-9 team searched the building.

Post Miranda, Green reportedly declined to speak with the deputy.

Green has been charged with trespassing and property damage to a church. He has five felony convictions (three violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (none violent); he has served four state prison sentences, with his most recent release in August 2024.

Green was last arrested on August 29, the day he was released from prison, after a call was received about a naked man trying to break into houses; he was found inside an unoccupied house. He was originally charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, a felony, but the charge was reduced to trespassing and property damage, both misdemeanors. After he entered a plea of nolo contendere to the charges, he was sentenced to 120 days in jail with credit for 83 days served, followed by a year of probation, and he was released from the Alachua County Jail on December 6.

Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $5,000.

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.