Homeless registered sex offender arrested for breaking into dormitory building, stealing items

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Samuel Caraballo, Jr., 43, was arrested on January 9 for allegedly breaking into a privately-owned dormitory for UF students, entering multiple times, and stealing over $2,400 in items, including keys that gave him access to many areas.

The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that surveillance cameras at Windsor Hall Apartments (629 SW 9th Street) showed Caraballo inside the property on December 14; Caraballo, who is a homeless registered sex offender, is not a resident of the complex and was not authorized to be in the building, which requires a passcode or key fob for entry. The privately-owned complex provides dormitory-style accommodations for UF students, and one of its buildings is reserved for women.

Caraballo allegedly entered by forcing a side door and stole numerous items. Over the next three days, Caraballo allegedly entered the property multiple times and stole a set of keys from a supply closet that gave him access to “open multiple other doors.”

Caraballo allegedly stole items such as a microwave, mini-refrigerator, TV, iPad, wireless speakers, food, tools, a dolly, and a cart. The officer reported that Caraballo could be seen on surveillance video pushing the cart and dolly, which were loaded with stolen items.

The officer reported that Caraballo looked directly into a camera at the entry,and facial recognition software was used to identify him. Officers also had multiple contacts with him in 2024, and body-worn camera footage reportedly matches the man seen in the Windsor Hall videos.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, and Caraballo was arrested on both that warrant and a second warrant for not reporting his residence since May 2024 as a transient sexual offender who is required to register every 30 days. Caraballo has been a registered sex offender since 2004, when he was convicted of lewd/lascivious molestation of a victim between 12 and 15 years old.

Caraballo has been charged with burglary, grand theft, and three counts of failing to register a new address after vacating his residence. He has nine felony convictions (one violent, one sexual) and four misdemeanor convictions (two violent), and he has served four state prison sentences, with his most recent release in May 2023; his most recent sentence (2016) was out of Alachua County, but the previous sentences were out of Broward County. Judge Kristine Van Vorst 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.