Gainesville Man Serving Prison Time for Battery After Long Line of Incidents
On October 6, Alif Tyshane Wiley, 28, was convicted of felony battery by a repeat offender and sentenced to 28 months in prison.
Facing a ten-year maximum sentence, Wiley took a plea deal that was accepted by Judge Robert Groeb.
According to the sworn complaint, on October 29, 2023, the two victims, one man and one woman, were sitting in traffic when Wiley came up to their driver’s side window and said something along the lines of knowing who they were. Wiley then extended his arm through the driver’s window and punched the female victim in the face.
It's unclear if Wiley was aware of the fact that Gainesville Police Department Officer Farrah Lormil was watching the entire incident, or if he just didn’t care. Lormil captured the incident on their body camera.
The police report doesn’t say specifically how Wiley knew the victims but clearly confirms they knew each other in some capacity prior to the incident.
According to Alachua County court records, Wiley became a felon back in 2014 when he was 17 years old. He was convicted of carrying a concealed firearm and sentenced to nine months in jail with 131 days credit for time served and three years of probation. Court records show he sent Judge William Davis a letter pleading for sympathy prior to his sentencing.
Wiley wrote, “I wish that you [could] give me one more chance to show you, my family and the state that I can do right in the community and that I am a changed person. My dad was not in my life at all and my mom had to play both roles. It was hard on her, five kids, no dad, but that’s life… Growing up in Pine Ridge all my life was hard… I had to fight every day. I was with the wrong crowd. Everybody was older than me so they had me do everything I did, not knowing the things I was doing could land me in jail. My mom did not know what I was doing in Pine Ridge or who I was chillin’ with. I did not have a dad to learn from. I have made [a] dumb mistake in my life [that] I wish I can take back, but I can’t. I’m not saying all this so you feel bad for me, it's the truth… I am 17 years old. I know that I can’t let my life go to waste… I just ask for one more chance Mr. Davis.”
In July 2016, Wiley was arrested for allegedly stealing a firearm. The arrest report describes Wiley as a “documented Blood gang member” and says he stole a gun from an individual’s motel room. The State Attorney’s Office later dropped the charges citing a lack of evidence.
In December 2016, Wiley was arrested and charged with resisting an officer without violence for running away upon seeing police officers. He was later convicted of the misdemeanor offense and sentenced to jail time with immediate release for time served credit.
In March 2018, Wiley was sentenced to three years in prison with 238 days credit for time served in jail following a conviction for felony charges of carrying an unlicensed firearm and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Written one year prior to his conviction, the arrest report states the following:
“Upon sight of LEO, [Wiley] began walking south around the back of the building. As soon as we stepped out of the vehicle and to the place where [Wiley] had been standing, I noticed the smell of burnt marijuana. Sgt. Ward did as well and verbally stated so. When we made contact with [Wiley] on the south side of building B, he was agitated and pacing back and forth. Sgt. Ward explained to [Wiley] that he was being detained because the smell of marijuana was emanating from his person. When [Wiley] was told he was going to be searched, [Wiley] spontaneously said, ‘Fuck, I'm going to jail.’ A subsequent probable cause search of [his] person revealed a .25 caliber silver handgun in [his] left front pocket (serial # 380160). The firearm was completely concealed within his pocket. Post-Miranda, [Wiley] stated that he had been carrying the gun for self-protection. [Wiley] denied owning the gun but stated that he had been carrying it since yesterday because he was worried about someone shooting him.”
In 2021, Wiley was charged with aggravated stalking via sworn complaint but was never arrested or prosecuted. Wiley allegedly sent his ex-girlfriend text messages stating he would “shoot up the apartment.” The report said Wiley had a Facebook profile picture of him holding a firearm despite being barred from possessing guns. Wiley additionally drove by the victim’s house and sent her “over 20 text messages over the course of a month with no other purpose than to cause emotional distress,” the sworn complaint states.
According to a police report, in January 2022, Wiley robbed the Oaks Jewelry with an individual who police called a “documented associate” of Wiley.
Wiley walked into the store and asked employees to view a 22’ Cuban chain. Wiley told staff he would “return” with the money for the necklace and then left the store. Wiley’s associate walked into the store after him and left with a similarly valued necklace without paying. The pair was spotted on Wendy’s cameras leaving the scene.
A few months later, Wiley was arrested on a warrant for the Oaks Jewelry robbery by Alachua County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) Deputy Robert Dean, who reported the following:
“On April 26, 2022, while transporting Alif Tyshane Wiley to the Department of the Jail after arrest on an active warrant, he escaped from the back seat of my patrol vehicle and fled on foot… Alif Wiley manipulated the door handle and freed himself at the intersection of NE 8th Avenue and NE Waldo Road. Once outside of the vehicle, he fled on foot eastbound into the adjacent neighborhood while wearing handcuffs belonging to ACSO valued at $60. I informed dispatch via radio of the situation and asked that units respond to my location and establish a perimeter. Once the additional units arrived, a perimeter was set up and an extensive search was conducted. After an exhaustive search, Alif was not located. Alif is being charged with escape and petit theft.”
Wiley evaded police custody for roughly one week until his re-arrest. After about three months in jail, Wiley pleaded for sympathy from Judge Davis again, writing the following:
“Your Honor, I'm writing you this letter with a heavy heart. I am ashamed of the decisions I have made recently. Being incarcerated has opened my eyes and shown me how much I truly value my freedom. If given the opportunity, I plan on being a God-fearing, law-abiding citizen. An honest mistake of bad judgment and lack of character has led me to me being in jail. My father has passed away; he was a huge part of my life. This is a moment that I can't get back, so your honor, I am pleading to the courts to place me on a leg monitor until my case is resolved or release me for 72 hours so I may have the opportunity to pay my respects by attending my father's funeral. If possible, I would also be ready to go ahead and resolve this case with probation. I am grieving over the loss of my father, and this has given me more reason to come home stronger, smarter and more dedicated than before. So, your honor, I am asking you to show mercy and allow me another chance to show you, society, and my family that I've learned from my mistakes and am dedicated to making better decisions to move forward and to prove my words are my future actions. Thank you and GOD.
P.S. I have also turned myself in on this case.”
Wiley did not bond out, court records show.
In early December 2022, the State Attorney’s Office dropped the jewerly theft charge, but later that month he was convicted of escaping and petit theft. Wiley was sentenced to jail time with immediate release for time served credit, court records show.
In September 2023, Wiley was convicted of domestic battery by strangulation and sentenced to two years of probation. The police report states that on January 14, 2023, Wiley struck the victim in the jaw multiple times for communicating with a man on the phone. Wiley then got out of the vehicle and fled the scene, but abused the victim again at her house a short time later. Wiley put the victim in a chokehold from behind and soon after reportedly deprived her of her phone.
Wiley’s current release date from prison is February 10, 2027 due to receiving credit for time served in jail. Wiley’s plea agreement for his most recent conviction results in the termination of his probation for his Jan. 14, 23’ battery case.
Wiley is currently incarcerated in the Florida Department of Corrections Reception and Medical Center, per the government agency's website.
