Trenton man who crashed excavator into Gainesville Walmart sentenced to decade in prison

Alan Festo, Gainesville Sun
·2 min read
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An Alachua County judge on Monday sentenced a Trenton man who last fall stole an excavator and drove it into a Gainesville Walmart to 10 years in prison, court records show.

Jesse Charles Smith, 48, pleaded no contest to grand theft more than $100,000, four counts of criminal mischief, trespassing and felony petit theft, and was sentenced by Judge William Davis to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation. Smith will receive credit for 217 days time served.

According to a Gainesville Police Department arrest report, on Sept. 9, 2023, Smith "hotwired" an excavator belonging to Watson Construction just after 8 p.m. at 2605 SW 47th St., where work is being done for the Southwest 62nd Boulevard Connector.

A Trenton man used an excavator Monday night to damage a parking lot light pole and a loading dock at Walmart, 2900 SW 42nd St., in Gainesville.
A Trenton man used an excavator Monday night to damage a parking lot light pole and a loading dock at Walmart, 2900 SW 42nd St., in Gainesville.

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Smith used the excavator — valued at $350,000 and weighing about 72,000 pounds — to force his way through a chainlink fence at Storage Depot of Gainesville, 2707 SW 40th Blvd., where he drove into buildings and extended the boom, the report said.

Four buildings were damaged at the storage facility.

Smith then forced his way through the southeast corner of the property and through a fence at Swamp City Fitness, 4315 SW 29th Ave. The excavator also caused underground damage. While on the property, Smith hit a utility pole causing it to fall to the ground with live wires, and also drove over a CT meter, the report said.

Smith's rampage with the excavator finally ended after he knocked over a light pole in the the parking lot of Walmart, 2900 SW 42nd St., where he also crashed into a loading dock, the report said.

The total damage caused by Smith was estimated at more than $2 million.

After crashing into the Walmart, police say Smith entered the business with a machete, which he discarded before being confronted by law enforcement. The report says Smith "physically resisted" officers and refused to put his hands behind his back.

No injuries were reported during the incident.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Trenton man sentenced for crashing excavator into Gainesville Walmart