"Blown Way Out of Context:" Car Detailer Sent to Prison for Multiple Felonies
Last month, Davongelo “D.C.” Cortez Kimbrough, 34, was transferred into the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections to serve a prison sentence of nearly eight years for multiple felony charges.
Kimbrough was previously released from prison in 2020 after serving an eight year sentence for a home-invasion robbery. Following his release, he started a successful car detailing business in Gainesville.
On July 16, 2025, Kimbrough was arrested on a warrant for the charges child neglect (later dropped), falsely imprisoning a child under 13, interfering with the custody of a minor, burglary with assault or battery and stalking. All the charges are felonies except for stalking, which is a misdemeanor. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on June 28, 2025.
Police Narrative
The female victim (Vic 1) told police that she and Kimbrough were in a relationship for about four years and lived together but they separated around February 2025. Vic 1 advised he did not have access to the residence where he committed the offense. She advised he previously made a key without her knowledge, causing her to change the locks.
Kimbrough arrived at the residence and convinced Vic 1's son (Vic 2) to open the door under threat of a whooping. Vic 2 later told his mother, “Dad said if I don’t open the door he’s gonna whoop me,” indicating that Kimbrough had a parental role over the child but had no authority to take him.
Kimbrough took Vic 2 to his car and then returned inside. Vic 1 said she wasn’t sure if the doors were locked or the car was running, and believed her child was left alone inside the vehicle. The car was parked relatively far away from the residence, with Vic 2 later reporting he was unable to see the apartment.
After entering the residence, Kimbrough dragged Vic 1 off the bed by her feet. There was another man (Vic 3) in the bed with her, and Kimbrough dragged him out of the bed as well. Kimbrough began kicking Vic 3 on the ground and knocked him down when he tried to stand up. Vic 1 tried to intervene by pushing Kimbrough back, giving Vic 3 the opportunity to get up and try to get his things from the night stand in an effort to leave. Kimbrough pushed Vic 1 to the ground before continuing to attack Vic 3.
Vic 1 tried to intervene again and Kimbrough used an open palm to push her away by the face before grabbing her shirt and ripping her to the floor, causing her to twist and scrape her ankle. She grabbed her phone and was screaming at Kimbrough that she’d call the police and he was going back to prison.
Kimbrough went to the kitchen and grabbed what Vic 1 believed to be a knife, causing her to hang up the phone out of fear of what he may do. When emergency services called her back, she was too frightened to answer.
Kimbrough exited the kitchen without an object in his hand and ran after Vic 3, refusing to let him leave the apartment. A struggle ensued between Vic 1, Vic 3 and Kimbrough and Vic 3 managed to exit the apartment. Kimbrough tried to chase him but Vic 3 was already gone.
Kimbrough then returned to the location with Vic 2 before leaving the scene at 5:08 a.m.
Vic 1 advised that multiple times throughout the attack, Kimbrough threatened both her and Vic 3, to include telling Vic 3 that he’d kill him or anyone else if they returned to the apartment.
In the evening hours of June 29, 2025, Kimbrough contacted Vic 1 100 times through calls and texts from three phone numbers, further having family members reach out to her as well. Kimbrough did not threaten Vic 1 but did make a possessive statement about nothing changing them being family despite Vic 1 expressing that she wants no contact.
“This has caused [Vic 1] extreme emotional distress, placing her in fear for her safety as she fears his infatuation will lead him to return to the location again,” reported Deputy Kimberly Heskett.
Facing life in prison, Kimbrough entered an open no contest plea in July 2026. This means there wasn’t a negotiated sentence with prosecutors and Judge Denise Ferrero had discretion on sentencing. Ferrero gave Kimbrough the lowest permissible sentence of just under eight years.
Letters of Support
While his case was ongoing, several individuals wrote letters of support for Kimbrough.
According to a letter from Kimbrough's mother, Kimbrough expressed a deep sense of remorse towards Vic 3 and they were going to meet so he could apologize but it "never took place for some unknown reason." Kimbrough's mother wrote, "I did do a Zoom meeting with the young man and his mother on Sunday Evening that went very well and he voiced his opinion that he doesn't want to see another young man fall into the justice system & I agree with him fully because this all could have really been avoided."
"This incident has been blown way out of context and there are too many people in this city that knows my son is not this person in the local headlines," wrote Kimbrough's mother.
One of Kimbrough's friends wrote, "I specifically remember a time I had come home to my residence, and it was freezing outside, I locked my keys in my car and was unable to get into my home. D.C. drove over 20 minutes to come and help me at 4 in the morning. My car would not start when i was finally able to get in it and then he helped me drive to pick up my daughter and take her to school. He has also helped on numerous occasions to help me build or move things for my daughter in our home because I did not have anyone else. He has also supported my daughter with her cheer, cotillion, whatever she had going on. Her father is not involved in
her life, but she always had a smile on when we would see D.C... I sincerely hope the court will take his growth and actions since 2020 into account when making decisions in regards to this case... This current situation was a lapse in judgement at the time and doos not depict the person he truly is."
Another friend of Kimbrough wrote, "In our early years, he did not always choose the best friends or associates, and that environment contributed to his first legal situation. Even then, I knew him as someone with a good heart who simply made poor choices about the people around him. Throughout that entire period, we remained in contact. We talked often about accountability, growth, and building a better future. He took those conversations seriously. Over time, I watched him transform his life. He became focused, disciplined, and determined to stand on his own. He went into business for himself, worked hard, and created stability for both himself and his family. These were not temporary changes, they were consistent, intentional steps toward becoming the man he wanted to be. I saw him mature, distance himself from negative influences, and commit to living responsibly. Because I have known him for so long, I can say honestly that the charges he's currently facing do not align with the person I have known for over fifteen years. This situation is completely out of character for him. The version of him being portrayed as a 'monster' or someone with malicious intent does not reflect the man I have watched grow, improve, and take pride in doing right."
A long-time friend of Kimbrough wrote, "He often times let the homeless who wandered near his business participate in cleanings or some portion of the detail in order to provide them with financials for the daily necessities of life... He was one of the founding voices throughout the city for entrepreneurs to bring troubled youth into their working world to motivate them and encourage them that there were other avenues possible to making an honest living in the world... Most would agree that anyone who has served the amount of time he has at the age he did would be 'institutionalized' and I know he directly contradicts that stigma."
Alternative Narrative
In one of the letters of support, Santa Fe College Nursing Student Jarvis Middleton, a close friend of Kimbrough and Vic 1, painted a different picture than what's described in the police narrative. (Slight edits are made for victim confidentiality protections).
Middleton spoke with Vic 1 sometime after the incident, stating, "She told me that [Kimbrough] came to the house after her son [Vic 2] contacted him to come get him. [Kimbrough] asked [Vic 2], who is [Vic 1]'s son, where his mother was. [Vic 2] told him she was in the bedroom with a friend. [Kimbrough] took [Vic 2] downstairs, placed him in the car, and then went back upstairs."
Middleton emphasized that Kimbrough has treated Vic 2 like his own son since his father passed away. He stepped up and Vic 2 saw him as his dad.
"I know [Kimbrough] does not like to argue in front of children," wrote Middleton. "I respect that because children should not be involved in adult matters. [Vic 1] told me that [Kimbrough] grabbed the other male by the ankle and pulled him out of the bed. A struggle began, and when she jumped in between them, she was knocked down."
Middleton asked Vic 1 if Kimbrough hit her, and she replied, "No, he didn't hit me." Middleton asked Vic 1 why she told the police he did. She said that she felt Kimbrough needed to be held accountable for their prior issues. Middleton told Vic 1 that in this situation she can't say he hit her if that's not what actually happened. Vic 1 told Middleton that he did not understand.
Middleton wrote, "I then asked why they didn't just leave each other alone. She told me it was because of [Vic 2]. She said [Kimbrough] was so good with [her son] that she did not want to interfere with that relationship. She also told me that [Kimbrough] was trying to leave the house, and she was attempting to stop him. According to her, he pushed past her in an effort to leave, and during that process, she twisted her ankle."
Middleton advised that he brought Vic 1 an affidavit in hopes she would choose honesty but she wouldn't sign it. "I left it alone at the time, but I have not been able to let it go because I do not believe it is right to remain silent..." wrote Middleton. "I understand that he was wrong for reacting the way he did. However, we are all human, and sometimes people react emotionally. After investing nearly four years into a relationship, discovering your partner in that situation would be painful for anyone."
Middleton advised that Kimbrough told him he wanted to take the case to trial but decided not to because it'd be a gamble on his future and that he's spent too much time dealing with the criminal justice system.
Motion to Correct Time Served Credit
On September 9, Kimbrough’s attorney made a motion to correct his time served credit. Kimbrough was given 337 days of time served credit, however, he spent 376 days in jail until his sentencing.
Kimbrough is scheduled to be released from prison in 2033. By then he'll be in his early 40s.
