Teens arrested for car theft were released from jail in September; one is on probation

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Devin Christopher DeCoursey, 18, and Timrell Lee Means, 19, were arrested yesterday for allegedly stealing a car; both were released from the Alachua County Jail in September, and DeCoursey is on probation.

The car’s owner told the responding Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy that her car was stolen from the Holly Heights area at about 10:10 a.m. Friday morning and she saw DeCoursey drive away in her car.

A friend of the car’s owner told the deputy that Means was also in the car and was wearing a red jacket with its hood up.

At about 11:35 a.m., the deputy located the car at Tiger Bay and reported that DeCoursey was in the passenger seat and Means was in the driver’s seat of the car, wearing a red jacket with its hood up. The deputy also reported that there was a bag of marijuana in plain view in the center console and a key to the car was found under the car.

Post Miranda, DeCoursey reportedly said he had been picked up at Harbor Cove, didn’t know the car was stolen, and was visiting a family member at Tiger Bay. He said it was his first time in the car and the marijuana was not his.

Post Miranda, Means reportedly said he did not know who was driving the car, but he was picked up at his home in east Gainesville. He said the marijuana was not his.

Both men were charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana.

DeCoursey has four adult felony convictions (two violent), along with juvenile convictions between 2019 and 2021. In March 2024, he was charged as an adult with possession of a firearm by a minor under 18 and possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent, battery by a jail inmate on another inmate, battery on detention staff, and property damage over $1,000, all committed while he was a juvenile. According to his plea document, the charges carried a maximum sentence of 30 years in state prison. Judge Denise Ferrero accepted a plea deal that dropped the charge of possession of a firearm by a minor under 18 and withheld adjudication of guilt on the other charges; the sentence was 250 days in jail with credit for 131 days served, followed by 19 months of probation. DeCoursey was released from jail on September 16, 2024, and is currently on probation.

Means was arrested in November 2023 for stealing a car parked on the street in his neighborhood and charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, grand theft of a firearm, and petit theft. According to his plea document, the charges carried a maximum sentence of 11 years in state prison. Judge James Colaw accepted a plea deal with a sentence of 364 days in jail with credit for 102 days served. Means was released from jail on September 13, 2024.

Judge Donna Keim set bail for DeCoursey at $6,000 and for Means at $6,000.

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.