Man on pre-trial release charged with grabbing women at Publix

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Steven Jamal Welch, 30, was arrested yesterday after allegedly grabbing two women at the Publix at Butler Plaza West (3930 SW Archer Road); he was on pre-trial release after allegedly threatening to rape a stranger and her baby while she was sitting in a parked car.

At about 8:50 a.m., a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to Publix, where an employee said she had been working on the hair products aisle when Welch walked up and squeezed her “glute.” She said she felt violated and asked him what he was doing; she said he responded, “I want you.” She said she walked away and asked a co-worker for help.

Meanwhile, Welch walked toward the exit of the store, where he saw a second female victim walking in with her family; he alleged said “Hey” and tried to grab her by her arm. She said she walked away so he couldn’t touch her.

The officer reported that surveillance video showed Welch approaching the first victim and touching her “glutes”; two minutes later, the video showed him trying to grab the second victim’s arm near the entrance of the store.

Welch was reportedly detained at Starbucks (3524 SW Archer Road). Post Miranda, he reportedly said he saw the first victim and “got interested in her.” He reportedly said he “wanted to be a little aggressive and introduced himself to seduce” her; he said he wanted to “finesse,” so he touched her glutes but “definitely didn’t squeeze her glute.” He reportedly said he tried to talk to and grab the second victim, but she walked away.

The arrest report notes that Welch “has a history of sexually violent behavior” and “poses a genuine threat to the community as a sexually violent offender. [Welch’s] behavior indicates a clear and articulable pattern and obvious escalation of open and obvious assaults and, now, unwanted physical touching of unknown female victims.” The officer noted that “mental health intervention has not successfully deterred [Welch] from victimizing women and children in the community.”

According to court records, Welch has outstanding non-extraditable warrants from other states; he has been in Alachua County for about three years. In May 2022, he was arrested for threatening Chipotle employees, leading the employees to lock themselves in the back of the store out of fear. That case can no longer be found in local court records.

In July 2022, a sworn complaint was filed against him after he allegedly stood over two female victims in a “creepy” way at his apartment complex’s pool; after he allegedly became aggressive with the responding officer, he was charged with resisting an officer without violence. The apartment complex’s management told the officer that they were in the process of evicting him because of repeated complaints from women that he walked up to them, stared, and made sexual comments or advances. The apartment complex moved up his eviction date after this incident, and he was reportedly Baker-Acted on the date of the incident. He was referred to Mental Health Court but declined to participate.

He was later referred again to Mental Health Court, but in a November 2022 memo, his case manager reported that he “presents with Schizophrenia symptoms” but refused to comply with jail staff or take his prescribed medication. She recommended that the Mental Health Court “discontinue” the case.

In a December 2022 motion to release him to Court Services for Baker Act and treatment supervision, his public defender stated that he had been found incompetent to proceed and needed mental health stabilization; she requested that he be released to outpatient treatment. Ten days later, the charge was dropped.

In October 23, Welch was arrested after allegedly yelling at a woman nursing her baby in a parked car at Panda Express that he would rape her and her baby. He was arrested in January 2024 on that charge, and Judge Thomas Jaworski ordered him released on his own recognizance with a requirement to have no contact with the victim. He was referred to Mental Health Court in May, but the State Attorney’s office objected, so he was not accepted into the program. He was referred to Veterans Court in June, but the State Attorney’s office also objected to his placement in that program. He is currently scheduled for a jury trial in that case in January.

Welch has been charged with battery and attempted battery. He has no criminal convictions. Judge Adam Lee set bail at $100,000.

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.