Man on pre-trial release arrested for cocaine possession and tampering with evidence

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alfie Maurice Stinson, 55, was arrested yesterday and charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell, tampering with evidence, and violation of pre-trial release conditions after he allegedly tried to hand cocaine to another person while being arrested on warrants.

Stinson had two active warrants, one for violating his pre-trial release conditions after he posted bail on a charge of cocaine possession and the other for a subsequent charge of cocaine possession, filed via sworn complaint about five days after he was released. Stinson allegedly provided an incorrect address to officials, which helped him avoid capture.

Stinson was also charged with domestic battery in January 2023 via sworn complaint, but those charges were later dropped.

On July 18, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy recognized Stinson standing outside a business on NW 13th Street. The deputy told him he was being arrested on active warrants and told him to put his hands behind his back. The deputy reportedly saw Stinson drop something in the lap of a woman who was sitting in a car near where he was standing. The woman immediately said, “This isn’t mine,” and handed two white pieces of a rocky substance to the deputy; the substance tested positive for cocaine and weighed about 3.26 grams.

A search of Stinson reportedly produced two large wads of cash, mostly $5 and $10 bills. The deputy wrote that these denominations are consistent with “nickel and dime” narcotics sales.

Post Miranda, Stinson reportedly said he got the cash from scratch-off tickets and said he did not get the cash from selling cocaine.

Stinson has reportedly been in the area for 36 years and is unemployed. He has 16 felony convictions (one violent) and five misdemeanor convictions (none violent). He has served seven state prison sentences, mostly for cocaine-related offenses, and was last released in 2018. Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $75,000 on the first two offenses but found no probable cause for the charge of violating pre-trial release conditions, although Stinson’s April 2022 release conditions include a prohibition on possessing illegal drugs. However, Jaworski denied bond for the April 2022 case and set bail at $21,000 for the May 2022 case.

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.