Homeless man on probation arrested for burglary and attempted sexual battery just days after release from jail

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Troy Baker Robinson, 36, was arrested early yesterday morning after allegedly breaking into an apartment and preventing the victim from leaving her bedroom until her roommate scared him off and then breaking into a second apartment a few hours later, with the intention of raping a woman who was alone in that apartment.

Robinson was released from the Alachua County Jail on July 24 after serving a 364-day sentence for three cases involving charges of burglary, stalking, and aggravated stalking, and he had already violated the conditions of his community control by tampering with his GPS monitor, resulting in a loss of signal beginning on July 25.

First incident on July 30

At 2:45 a.m. on July 30, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to an apartment building in the 1800 block of NW 2nd Avenue, where the victim said Robinson had entered her bedroom through a second-floor balcony door. She said she was acquainted with him, and when she saw him, she called out, “Troy!” and tried to leave her bedroom. She said Robinson pushed and grabbed her and kept her from leaving the room. She started screaming for help, and a male roommate ran into her bedroom. Robinson reportedly asked the roommate how long he had lived there, and the victim took the opportunity to grab her phone and call 911. When Robinson saw that she had her phone, he ran out of the apartment the same way he entered. Officers were unable to locate Robinson at that time, but the victim identified Robinson in a photo line-up.

Second incident on July 30

At 5 a.m. on the same date, a second victim, who lives in the 900 block of SW 6th Avenue, woke up to find a man lying on top of her with his genitals exposed. The victim tried to remain calm and asked Robinson to get her a drink of water, then texted 911 and also texted her grandmother, asking her to call the police and tell them someone had broken into her apartment and was still there with her. The victim decided to try to keep Robinson distracted until officers could arrive.

Robinson reportedly asked the victim if she liked to cook, so she offered to make him some food. Robinson asked the victim if he could play music, and she told him he could play music through the TV. The victim said that while she was cooking, Robinson went back up to her bedroom and came back with what looked like a cigarette; she said Robinson mentioned both ketamine and methamphetamines while he was talking to her. She said Robinson offered her drugs, but she declined; she said Robinson poured himself an alcoholic drink and turned on the TV. When officers arrived, they reportedly found the front door of the apartment unlocked and found Robinson sitting in front of the TV, scrolling through the music channels.

Post Miranda, Robinson reportedly told a detective that he had been in a friend’s apartment when he was arrested, that he has known her for a month, and that he lives nearby in Kensington Court Apartments. The detective reported that he was released from jail six days before the incident and there are no apartments named Kensington Court in the city of Gainesville; the name he used for the victim was also incorrect.

Robinson reportedly said the victim had invited him to her apartment and left the door open for him and that she was awake when he entered her bedroom. However, he later said “she must have left the door unlocked” and that she was asleep and surprised or shocked to see him in her bedroom. He reportedly said he “almost” had sex with her and that he had intended to have sex with her, but she decided she was hungry, so they did not have sex.

Robinson reportedly talked about how much the victim cares about him and that she wants to make sure that he eats. The detective noted in the arrest report, “It was obvious and apparent… that [Robinson] was attempting to paint a picture of an ongoing friendship with [the victim]. However, it is undisputed that [Robinson] is a stranger to [the victim] and at no time did [she] invite [Robinson] into her home.”

Robinson also reportedly confessed to the earlier burglary, saying he had stacked a coffee table and a chair to climb onto the balcony and that the victim screamed when she saw him, so he jumped off the balcony and ran away.

Det. Desiree Russano: “The reason that he was arrested yesterday was through an act of bravery by the victim, who was in her home alone when she awoke with him in her bedroom.”

At a press conference this morning, GPD Detective Desiree Russano said she was previously familiar with Robinson and had worked one of the previous cases. While emphasizing that only Robinson is responsible for his actions, she encouraged everyone to lock their car and house doors. She added, “My advice would be to contact us when you meet someone suspicious. Contact us if somebody gives you the feeling that they shouldn’t be doing what they’re doing or they shouldn’t be where they are. We need to know that information, because we knew who Troy Baker Robinson was before July 30. He was on our radar. It’s unfortunate that he was able to gain entry into two apartments prior to us arresting him, but we will continue to arrest the same people, even if it’s for the same crimes, day in and day out, to keep the people in Gainesville safe.”

Det. Russano added that she wanted to be sure to “recognize the victim who had the courage to contact law enforcement while Mr. Robinson was still in her home, which is what made it possible to arrest him and to prevent this from happening again. The reason that he was arrested yesterday was through an act of bravery by the victim, who was in her home alone when she awoke with him in her bedroom.”

Previous charges

Robinson has been involved in a number of similar incidents since 2022:

• In July 2022, Robinson met a woman in an apartment building near the UF campus and pretended to be a student. At one point, he entered her apartment while she was in the shower, opened the shower curtain, and told her to kiss him. He kept showing up at her apartment and stalked her for weeks before he was arrested. In August 2023, Judge Aymer “Buck” Curtin found that Robinson was incompetent to stand trial due to “schizoaffective disorder and other disorders” and released him to outpatient mental health treatment.
• In August 2023, Robinson approached another woman in the courtyard of her apartment complex near the university; the victim said it was the first time she had met him. Robinson spoke with the victim and then asked for her phone number, and she gave it to him. Robinson started “pressuring” her and asked to come inside her apartment. When she said no, he continued to ask and even asked if he could lie in bed with her. He also asked her to come to his place, saying he had “whiskey and weed we can smoke.” She said that she went to her apartment, and when she opened the door, Robinson pushed past her into the apartment and put his arm on her shoulder, saying he wanted to hug and kiss her. She immediately shoved him outside and closed the door, but he stayed outside her door, asking her to let him in. She said he also called her numerous times before eventually leaving. Over the next few weeks, he continued to try to contact her, even after she asked him to stop.
• In September 2023, Robinson was arrested for burglary of an occupied dwelling near campus and grand theft.
• A few days after the September 2023 arrest, the victim in the July 2022 case reported that Robinson had been trying to contact her repeatedly since his release in August. She said he identified as her husband and called her his wife and said, “I love you.” In March 2024, Judge Curtin sentenced Robinson to 364 days in jail for battery (the initial charge in the July 2022 arrest), with credit for 364 days served. However, he was also charged with aggravated stalking and violation of a protective order.

In May 2024, Robinson entered a plea of nolo contendere to charges of stalking, burglary, grand theft, and aggravated stalking in the above cases, and although the plea agreement stated that the maximum sentence for the charges is 25 years in state prison, Judge James Colaw sentenced him to 364 days in jail with credit for 247 days served, followed by a year of house arrest (community control) and then two years of probation. He was released from jail on July 24.

Violation of probation

Robinson allegedly failed to report to his probation officer after being released from jail, did not live at the address in Midtown Apartments that he had provided to the probation officer (Robinson is reportedly homeless and has a history of occupying vacant apartments), and removed his electronic monitoring device. An affidavit for eight probation violations was filed on July 26, and a warrant for his arrest was issued the same day by Judge Colaw, who also ordered him held without bail.

Robinson has been charged with burglary with assault or battery, false imprisonment, burglary of an occupied dwelling, and attempted sexual battery, along with violating probation. Robinson has three felony convictions (one violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (four violent); he has two active warrants out of Georgia. Judge Kristine Van Vorst ordered him held without bail.

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.