Ocala man sentenced to 9 months in jail for hitting juvenile with gun, tearing off part of his ear

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Travis Ramone Pinder 35, of Ocala, has been sentenced to nine months in jail, followed by four years of probation, after entering a plea of nolo contendere to child abuse without great bodily harm.

Pinder was originally arrested on June 21, 2025 and charged with aggravated child abuse after the 17-year-old victim said Pinder walked up to him and hit him on the left side of his face with enough force that part of his ear was partially ripped off. The victim said he didn’t realize he’d been hit with a gun until he saw the gun in Pinder’s hand. The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that even if the earlobe could be reattached, the victim was likely to have permanent scarring.

On February 24, Pinder entered a plea of no contest to child abuse without great bodily harm, a third-degree felony; according to the plea document, the maximum sentence for the charge is five years in state prison.

Judge James Colaw sentenced him to 270 days in jail, with credit for seven days served, followed by four years of probation. Pinder must complete an anger management program, must have no contact with the victim during his probation, and is prohibited from possessing weapons or firearms.