ALACHUA – A 63-year-old homeless man was arrested after police say he attacked another man outside the Alachua Branch Library, leaving the victim with visible injuries.
Robert Lee Robinson was charged with felony battery with a prior battery conviction following the July 21 incident.
According to an arrest report from the Alachua Police Department, an officer responded at about 2:35 a.m. to the Alachua Sports Pub, where the victim reported he had been assaulted.
The victim told the officer he had found a bag outside the Alachua library that appeared to have been abandoned. As he was looking through the bag’s contents, Robinson allegedly confronted and attacked him.
According to the report, the victim said Robinson struck him and choked him while he was on the ground. The victim said he was eventually able to break free and run to the nearby Alachua Sports Pub to seek help.
The responding officer reported that the victim had visible injuries across his upper body, including injuries to his face.
The officer later located Robinson at the library. According to the arrest report, Robinson was initially uncooperative and stated he was ready to go and wanted to speak with a judge.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Robinson reportedly told the officer he had awakened to find the victim going through his bag. He said that after confronting the man, the two began fighting. When asked to describe what happened during the altercation, Robinson reportedly became uncooperative again and repeated that he would speak with the judge.
The victim later positively identified Robinson as his attacker, according to the report.
Robinson, who is listed as homeless in the arrest report, was charged with felony battery based on a prior battery conviction.
Court records show Robinson has nine prior felony convictions, including one violent felony, and 28 misdemeanor convictions, three of which were violent. He has also served six state prison sentences, with his most recent release occurring in 2004.
Judge Susan Miller-Jones set Robinson’s bail at $50,000.
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