ACQUITTED: Man awaiting trial in jail charged with sending death threats to judge and his family

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Pierce Robinson-Burgess’s attorney sent the following statement:

“On November 18, 2024, Mr. Robinson-Burgess proceeded to a jury trial in case 2024-CF-2529 in which he was charged with one count of Written Threats to Kill and one count of Written Threat to Kill a State Attorney. This case was tried by Jacksonville attorneys James Hill and Jesse Dreicer of Tassone, Dreicer and Hill.

“Following a two day jury trial, Mr. Robinson-Burgess was found not guilty on all counts. The jury deliberated for a little more than an hour.

“Prior to this verdict Mr. Robinson-Burgess had been held without bond and in solitary confinement ”special management” for a number of months. Based on testimony at trial by an Alachua County Jail correctional officer, it is unclear why Mr. Robinson Burgess was held in this level of confinement.

“Following the not guilty verdict, the Court acknowledged that the pre-trial detention order that had been in place on the 2024 case would be void based upon the jury’s verdict and revocation of previous bonds would be reinstated.

“Those bonds totaled $7,502,000.00

“A hearing was conducted on January 15, 2025, where motions to reduce bond on the three remaining cases were addressed by the Court.

“Bond on case 2024-MM-130 (involving threats to a Gainesville Circuit Court Judge) was reduced from $2,500,000 to a release on his own recognizance.

“Bond on case 2020-MM-2117 (stalking)  was reduced from $2,000 to a release on his own recognizance.

“And bond on case 2023-CF-3826 (aggravated stalking and stalking) was reduced to $6,000.00.

“Mr. Robinson Burgess is expected to be released following the posting of his bond.

“The 2023 case is now set for trial in late March.

“Mr. Robinson Burgess maintains his innocence and intends to proceed to trial on all remaining cases.”

Original article:

Pierce Jevon Robinson-Burgess, 29, who has been incarcerated in the Alachua County Jail since June for an elaborate stalking scheme, has been charged with aggravated stalking and threatening a judge or a judge’s family after allegedly sending written death threats to Judge James Colaw and his daughter.

Since being arrested, court records show that Robinson-Burgess has written over 30 letters to Judge Colaw, asserting that he is innocent, that the alleged incident did not take place in Alachua County, and that he is being poorly treated at the jail, including an assertion that he has lost 35 pounds and that his mental health is declining.

According to the arrest report, several letters were received on December 5; one included a death threat to the judge, and one included a death threat to his daughter. A third letter received on December 6 stated, “I never forget. You have no idea how deadly serious I am.”

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy determined that a reasonable person would find the letters threatening and that they would cause substantial emotional distress to the recipient.

Robinson-Burgess was previously being held on $500,000 bail, and additional bail of $5,000,000 has now been added.

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.