Pair charged with robbing man who had arranged to meet woman for sex

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Trevis Jovon Bell, 31, and Christianna Marie Thomas, 24, were arrested early yesterday morning after allegedly robbing a man who had arranged to meet Thomas for “sexual favors in exchange for cash.”

At about 3:45 a.m. on April 14, Thomas reportedly got into the victim’s car at the Value Lodge (2000 SW 13th Street); she and the victim reportedly met on an online website where she agreed to provide “sexual favors in exchange for cash.”

Thomas allegedly pointed a gun at the victim while Bell got into the back seat and allegedly choked and hit the victim several times, resulting in visible bruising and a bloody mouth; Bell allegedly demanded that the victim give him cash. Bell allegedly grabbed the victim’s cell phone and wallet, which contained about $300 in cash, and fled with Thomas.

The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that surveillance video from the motel showed Thomas entering the victim’s vehicle; about 10 or 15 minutes later, the video showed Bell getting into the back seat. The video also reportedly shows Thomas holding a handgun as she fled.

The officer received consent to search Thomas’s motel room and reportedly found a handgun in a ceiling panel in the closet.

The victim reportedly identified both Bell and Thomas as the suspects who had robbed him.

Post Miranda, Bell denied any knowledge of the incident.

Post Miranda, Thomas reportedly said she had never met the victim before that night and they communicated through a website she “could not name.” She said the victim wanted to engage in sexual activity, and that was when Bell got in the car and sat behind the victim. She reportedly denied several times that anyone had a gun during the incident, said there was no handgun in her motel room, and said she did not own a gun. She reportedly later admitted owning a gun and said she had hidden it in the ceiling of the motel room because she was afraid the officer would find it.

Bell has been charged with armed robbery. He has five felony convictions (four violent) and 21 misdemeanor convictions (three violent). He is a designated Violent Felony Offender of Special Concern and has served two state prison sentences. He recently served a three-year prison sentence for burglary and intimidating a witness and was released in November 2024; he is currently on probation in the same case. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial.

Thomas has been charged with armed robbery. She has one felony conviction (non-violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent). Judge Miller-Jones ordered her held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold her 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.