Gainesville Man Sentenced to Over Three Decades in Prison for Burglary and Property Damage
On August 22, Judge James Colaw sentenced Christopher Thomas Davis to 35 years in state prison after a jury found him guilty of felony burglary and property damage.
At 52 years of age, Davis will either die in prison or be released in his late 80s. His life in the outside world is over unless he can successfully appeal.
Police Report
On July 21, 2024, the Alachua Police Department (APD) responded to Brighton Beach car wash regarding reports of a burglary. Officer Jacob Eady reported the following:
“Per the business owner/victim, unknown people came to the car wash late at night on [July 20, 2024], in a dark blue sedan. One of the males was a look out, while another male used a power tool to cut into the roof of the business to gain access to a storage building within the car-wash. All of which was recorded, and can be observed via a camera system that streams to the owner. Once inside, the defendant was able to access the key to unlock the vacuum cash boxes. It was confirmed that the defendants did use the key to empty cash and tokens from the machines before leaving. The victim was able to identify one of the two defendants as Stephen Rippy, who is personally known to the victim. [Rippy] was the look out during the burglary.
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office and Gainesville Police Department also reported having similar burglaries in their respective jurisdictions. Both agencies reported a similar modus operandi, and the same dark blue sedan was observed traveling to the locations. On [July 21, 2024], deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office observed Rippy at 251 SE 72nd Street, in Gainesville, Florida. At the address listed was a dark-colored Chevy sedan that resembled the car used in the burglary. Deputies contacted Rippy and detained him for questioning. The owner of the vehicle, Christopher Davis, was also detained as well…
[I] met with ACSO and interviewed Rippy at the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. Post-Miranda, Rippy stated that he and Davis went to the Brighton Beach car-wash on [July 20, 2024] and committed the burglary. Rippy confessed that he acted as the look out, while Davis sawed into the soffit of the building to gain access. Rippy was arrested for multiple charges as a result.
[I] interviewed Defendant Christopher Davis next, after reading the Miranda Rights. Post-Miranda, Davis stated he had nothing to do with the burglary being investigated. [I] asked Davis how this could be true, if his vehicle was used to commute to the burglary locations. Davis claimed that he was at home, and did not know who was using his vehicle at any time.
Davis was asked if he was near or around the Brighton Beach car-wash during the time of the burglary, and he said no. [I] confronted Davis with the fact that when searched, a Brighton Beach car-wash token was located inside his pocket, on his person... These tokens are unique to Brighton Beach, and would indicate he got it from the car-wash. Davis claimed that it was inside his car, and he happened to put it in his pocket but stayed home.
[I] asked Davis if a search of the data within his phone was done, would there be data that indicates his location was near the burglary or other burglaries in the area. Davis stated that there would be indications he sells ‘ice cream,’ aka methamphetamine, but nothing else. Davis then stated that he happened to leave his phone in his car the night it was used in the burglary, but stayed home to sleep. Davis claimed he did this so his phone could charge, which did not make sense to [me].
[I] told Davis that 1 of the males observed committing burglaries were about the same size and resembled Davis. Davis argued that his brother is similar in looks, and could have been there. This seemed unlikely, as Rippy and Davis reside together, and Rippy stated Davis was the co-defendant in this case.
A search warrant of Davis' phone was executed at a later date. [I] noted that events in the phone were logged all throughout the night and into the morning on [July 20, 2024]. [I'm] able to see events such as the phone connecting to his car, the phone coming on and off a charger, and continuously accesses applications within the phone throughout the entire evening and morning. [I'm] aware that Davis' phone is secured by a passcode pattern, and the passcode had to be provided by Davis to allow access to the contents. This would indicate to [me] that Davis was not asleep as stated, and was using his device which was in the car by his own omission.
Data extracted from Davis' phone also showed the device at Brighton Beach car-wash at the time the burglary was being committed. The times listed in the device being there correspond with times shown in the video taken by security cameras on the property.
[I] find there to be probable cause to charge the Defendant Christopher Davis with burglary of an unoccupied structure, criminal mischief over $1,000 in damage, and petit theft 3rd offense or subsequent offense.”
Davis’ theft count was dropped shortly after his arrest, but he still faced the other charges.
Davis has prior adjudications for similar property crimes over the years.
Davis has a few battery and assault convictions dating back to the late 90s and mid 2000s, court records show, but he hasn't committed a violent offense in two decades.
The court took multiple depositions ahead of the trial, including but not limited to Rippy, APD Officers Garrett Knight and Eady, APD Detective Thomas Stanfeild, along with Brighton Beach owner James Wesley Riley.
Rippy's Plea Deal
Davis’ case file includes transcripts from Rippy’s case, showing Colaw sentenced him to three years in prison followed by five years of probation after entering an open plea on felony property damage and burglary charges. This means Rippy didn’t enter a predetermined plea deal with prosecutors, and Colaw had free rein over the sentence.
Rippy’s public defender, Eric Atria, told Colaw that his client was a “relatively minor participant in the criminal conduct."
Atria introduced a minute-long video from the incident for Colaw to take into consideration. According to the transcript, the video showed Rippy standing outside the building while Davis broke in. Atira said, “In another video you can see sparks coming out of this machine, I believe. [Davis] is attempting to enter it with an angle grinder, is the allegation… To be clear, there are more videos but they're all substantially the same. I don’t think the State will disagree with that. The facts of this case is that Mr. Rippy's codefendant entered the building forcefully via the roof area, and then entered the machine, I think, with an angle grinder… I don’t even believe cash was taken. I think it was tokens.”
Atria went on to say, “It's clear from all the videos that Mr. Rippy stands outside. A vehicle may drive by. The codefendant is inside saying something; you can't tell, but presumably, ‘Is the coast clear?’ And Mr. Rippy saying, ‘You're good, you're good.’ That's the extent of his involvement in this.”
Colaw asked how Rippy and Davis knew each other.
Rippy replied, “I was actually painting his house…. I've known him for a couple years on and off. I mean, we don’t hang out or nothing like that. I was pretty much coerced and tricked into going there. Cause I was the only one that wasn't—you know, I was in my work clothes. I thought I was going to do some work.”
Colaw asked what time the incident occurred.
Rippy responded, “It was about 3:00 or 4:00 o'clock in the morning, I believe. Because he said he wanted to get it done before the owner went to work at 7:00 o'clock so we could get paid. And then I got his son, who overweighed me by 120 pounds… Every time I moved, [he said], ‘You're going to do what you're told to do,’ you know.”
Colaw asked if Davis’ son was at the crime scene.
Atria responded, “There’s a third individual there… in the bay. He was washing a car.”
A state attorney clarified no third individual was charged.
Sentencing guidelines mandated a minimum sentence of four years and eight months in prison, but Colaw determined Rippy established a probable reason to reduce it to three years.
Before delivering the sentence, Colaw told Rippy, “I do have to consider that you do have—looks like 27 prior convictions, albeit only four are felonies. It looks like the felonies, at least the most recent ones, appear to be more drug-related."
Davis' Message to the Court
Court records show that First Amendment Auditor and YouTuber Blue Steel Audits has found himself involved with Davis’ case, sending an email to the court a few days before the trial, which states the following:
“Written by Sterling Grindle AKA BLUE STEEL via Jailhouse phone call for Mr. Davis.
I have been detained since [August 25, 2024]. This crime allegedly occurred on [July 20, 2024]. When I was interrogated without counsel present, I maintained my innocence then, during arraignment, and now. My original counsel was Attorney Caleb Wood. Caleb Wood was replaced by PDO8 [Daniel] Sarafan. The appointment of Attorney Sarafan has resulted in much confusion. Attorney Sarafan has done no work. He did not depose any witnesses; this was all Attorney Wood.
Attorney Sarafan has been diligently urging myself to plead guilty and has recently, on August 20, presented a counteroffer from the state regarding a plea of guilty to be tendered. Attorney Sarafan's only defense strategy disclosed to me is to plead guilty. Attorney Sarafan nor Wood have ever presented the State's discovery in its entirety to me, the defendant. I have not been presented with one piece of evidence that establishes probable cause to attach myself to the crimes I am accused of.
No PDO8 has objected or made any motions for suppression of evidence and has continually delayed trial as so the state has amended charges and recently added more evidence that should be argued plausibly as inadmissible & biased hearsay, i.e., the state has named me as a codefendant of these crimes and has established by defendant Rippy's downward departure below par minimal sentence plea bargain. This was done in exchange for Rippy's testimony against me. Well, Rippy, at the State's persuasion, has been allowed to deceive the court. The fact is the court accepted outright perversions of the truth. Rippy's testimony should be impeached.
I am a drug addict often in relapse, as that is a modality and a theme of my recovery. I am a homeowner and was gainfully employed and can show proof. Rippy, in full active drug addiction, lived under my carport for a period of more than one year leading up to this moment. He had compassionate access/use of my vehicle. My son named in Rippy's 26-page plea is diagnosed autistic; that was never mentioned. I cannot be attached to the other gentlemen mentioned at the scene of the crime, as I have negative knowledge of who they are.
In respect to my attitude to this crime I am accused of and my legal representation, I would like to state that:
1. I was denied my right to a speedy trial.
2. The approach of my counsel's labor has been nothing, but depositions performed early on by counsel no longer present. My new attorney will not depose witnesses that I demand be called at trial and one specific that will exonerate myself. Rippy was blamed for a string/binge of crimes during those twenty-four hours, I hold those documents/proof.
3. There has been no strategy outlined & conveyed to me by PDO8.
4. I believe that I have been, and I am being, railroaded, and that gives me a feeling of righteous indignation. I have stacked and layered these improprieties until this last feature has occurred.
5. The event I speak of is that a county court judge presided over my jury selection, as to which my attorney did not challenge jurisdiction to a circuit court event; therefore, I would pray to the court on my behalf of ineffective counsel. I am demanding that I be afforded new counsel because I feel strongly that Attorney Sarafan is useless and is more an agent of the state than my defense attorney; his inactions are the proof.
6. Personally, I know the State and the Court in collusion each with the other can do whatever they want; they have done just that to this point, for which my only recourse would be to appeal after trial when the 8th Judicial has denied me due process. This is my foundation for these accusations & to get relief from a higher court on appeal after the State fabricates, PDO8 facilitates, and the Court adjudicates 6k pleas [and] 500 trials.
7. Here is a capture to Judge Lee doing almost the same where jurisdiction was challenged by the State. The state prevailed.”
This article is based on the limited information included in Davis’ case file on the Alachua County Court Records website, which does not include body camera footage, deposition transcripts, and courtroom videos.
Another report on Davis’ case may be released in the future if GnvInfo uncovers more information.
