Orlando man arrested for trashing ex-girlfriend’s apartment

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – James Louis Pandolfe Jr., 38, of Orlando, was arrested on December 11 for allegedly forcing his way into an ex-girlfriend’s apartment and damaging almost every item in the apartment.

On September 4, 2025, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a call from the victim, who was afraid to enter her apartment. The deputy conducted a safety sweep and found nobody inside the apartment. The victim said she had been out of town from mid-August until September 1, and while she was out of town, Pandolfe had sent her voicemails saying her apartment was on fire and her property was going to be destroyed. She said she was afraid to return to her apartment for several days after she came back to Gainesville, but when she finally returned, she found the door of the apartment damaged, along with multiple items inside the apartment.

The deputy reported that the front door had pry marks and almost every item in the apartment was damaged, with the exception of two pieces of furniture. The deputy reported that some of the walls were covered with laundry detergent, and the door to a bathroom was “torn to pieces.” Pages were ripped from the victim’s diary, and expletive-filled messages were written in the diary. The deputy estimated the damage to the apartment and property at about $10,000.

The deputy called Pandolfe, who said he went to the apartment on August 26, while the victim was out of town, to pick up his golf clubs; the deputy noted that some of the damage done to the walls seemed to be caused by blunt force, “possibly a golf club.” Pandolfe reportedly denied sending the voicemails and denied breaking into the victim’s apartment or damaging any of her belongings.

Pandolfe has been charged with burglary with damage over $1,000 and felony property damage. He has one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent), and Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail on the burglary charge, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial. Today, Judge David Kreider granted that motion and ordered him held without bail until trial.

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.