Registered sexual offender arrested for allegedly stealing e-scooter charging device on campus, reportedly said he was ‘instructed’ to steal it

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gabriel Aaron Hardgraves, 30, was arrested yesterday and charged with felony petit theft for allegedly stealing an e-scooter charging block; he reportedly told an officer he was “instructed” to steal it so it could be used to charge other stolen items.

The owner of the charging block, which is valued at about $40, reported that the device was stolen on February 17. The University of Florida Police Department issued a bulletin with a description of the suspect, and at about 9 p.m. on February 21, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a bicycle in the 800 block of SW 13th Street for riding at night without lights.

The bicyclist matched the description in the bulletin, and Hardgraves was detained. Post Miranda, Hardgraves reportedly admitted he had stolen the charging block at Riker Hall and that he was instructed to steal an e-scooter charging device so it could be used on other stolen items.

Hardgraves has been charged with a third or subsequent offense of petit theft, a felony. His address is listed as Interlachen, but he was arrested in Gainesville in May 2024 for stealing purses valued at $60 from Second and Charles; he entered a plea of nolo contendere in that case, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones sentenced him in June to 30 days in jail with credit for 33 days served, along with $383 in fines and court costs.

A sworn complaint was filed on August 20 for a second petit theft charge after Hardgraves allegedly took $50 in merchandise from the Great Smoke Shop on NW 13th Street. He was issued a Notice to Appear in November, but after deputies were unable to locate him, a warrant for his arrest was issued in January. He was arrested on January 24, and he entered a plea of nolo contendere to the charge on February 10. Judge Susan Miller-Jones fined him $326 in fines and court costs. He has not made any payments toward the fines in either case.

He is also facing a sworn complaint for felony petit theft for allegedly stealing about $269 in items from Lowe’s on NW 13th Street on August 15, 2024.

Hardgraves is a Registered Sexual Offender due to a conviction for assault with intent to commit a felony in Oklahoma in 2015. Florida’s sexual offender registry lists him as a transient, with GRACE Marketplace as his address. He also has a petit theft conviction out of Oklahoma, along with the two misdemeanor convictions in Alachua County. Judge William Davis set bail at $10,000.

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.