Man on pre-trial release charged with hitting roommate and stealing pistol

Staff report

HAWTHORNE, Fla. – James Earl Biglow, 37, was arrested yesterday and charged with hitting his roommate and then stealing his pistol and demanding $400 to give it back.

At about 6:15 p.m. on January 5, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a house in Hawthorne after a caller said his roommate beat him up and stole his gun.

The victim told the responding deputy that Biglow, his roommate, came into his bedroom and started arguing with him about money. He said Biglow hit him multiple times in the face and then took his Colt 1911 pistol from a bag; Biglow allegedly told the victim he could have the gun back for $400.

The deputy reported that the victim had injuries on his face that supported his story, and the victim was transported to an emergency room for treatment.

Biglow could not be found at the time of the incident, but deputies responded to a different incident at the same address on January 11 and took Biglow into custody.

Biglow has been charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, grand theft of a firearm, and battery with a previous conviction for aggravated battery. He has five felony convictions (one violent) and seven misdemeanor convictions (three violent); he has served one state prison term and was released in 2009. Judge Craig DeThomasis ordered him held without bail on the new charges, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial.

Biglow is on pre-trial release following an arrest in June 2024 in Holly Heights for resisting an officer without violence. In that case, deputies were searching for a woman who had allegedly shot a gun and run into an apartment, so they issued commands for everyone to come out; Biglow allegedly did not come out of the apartment for 20 minutes.

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. 

  • Roommate probably owed him money. Rent and drugs and roommates don’t usually go too good together.

      • Roger, not necessarily. In addition to traditional bail, jurisdictions often offer pretrial release programs designed to provide alternatives for those who cannot afford bail or pose a low risk to the community. In this case, definitely NOT a low-risk…

  • Same old $hit. Catch & release, rinse & repeat,….and then….do it ALL over again.

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