Charges Dropped: Happy Homes Construction CEO Arrested for Gun Threats in Tioga
Update | April 1, 2026: Drew Worthmann's attorney sent the Alachua Chronicle the following statement:
“The employees of IQFiber had a limited easement they were allowed to work in. IQFiber, did not, however, have carte blanche permission to damage Mr. Worthmann’s property with their large equipment. After discovering IQFiber employees working where they were not authorized to be, Mr. Worthmann ordered them to leave his property. Refusing to do so, the work crew began trespassing on Mr. Worthmann’s residence. Florida Stand Your Ground laws have long allowed homeowners to eject trespassers from their property. During the ejectment, Mr. Worthmann never pointed a firearm at anyone nor threatened anyone. His actions were squarely within the rights accorded to homeowners to protect their property. By law, Mr. Worthmann’s actions were legally justified and he had committed no crime. Therefore, he had legal immunity under the law and the charges were dismissed.”
Update February 19, 2026: The State Attorney's Office reportedly told the Alachua Chronicle that Worthmann had a property defense argument. Additionally, the article was edited to reflect contradictory information sourced from the arrest report about the development director's actions.
Editor's Notes: The wording in the original article was changed slightly to reflect the current disposition.
Update | February 11, 2026: In November 2025, prosecutors formally filed charges for improperly exhibiting a firearm or dangerous weapon, declining to prosecute for aggravated assault. On January 28, 2026, prosecutors threw out the case entirely, declining to prosecute altogether.
Drew Worthmann expressed his displeasure with GnvInfo in an email notifying the outlet of his disposition, stating, "When are you guys going to apologize and retract this info. Once again the stupid fucking police in this town fucked up yet another case. Imagine that. And you guys barge in like what they say is the gospel. Can't wait to bring in hundreds of 1st amendment auditors to teach these fucking police a lesson and how to do their job correctly."
The CEO of Happy Homes Construction, Drew Thomas Worthmann, 43, was arrested at his house in Tioga on September 16, 2025, on charges stemming from allegations of threatening IQ Fiber employees.
The alleged victims were present at Worthmann’s residence to install fiber optic cables, as the Tioga director of development hired IQ Fiber to install them throughout the neighborhood, the arrest report said. However, Development Director Luis Diaz reportedly said the arrest report was incorrect, stating, “IQ Fiber has been installing internet fiber all over Alachua County as a utility company, and they have access to all Utility Easements and Rights-of-Way in Alachua County. They did proactively consult with us prior to coming as to how to minimize the impact of their work in our community.”
Worthmann was returning to his house when he saw the crew present and reportedly became hostile.
According to the arrest report, Worthmann went inside his house and soon after exited “with a metallic black handgun in his right hand… aggressively yelling at both victims as well as others on scene to leave from in front of his house, causing both victims to retreat away from the residence due to a well-founded fear they were going to be shot.”
Worthmann told police he wouldn’t speak to them without his lawyer.
Worthmann has no bond right now, but his defense counsel has submitted a motion to set it at $20,000. The State Attorney’s Office has no objection to the motion.
According to the bond motion, Worthmann will not be permitted to contact IQ Fiber employees once he is out of jail, however, he “may remain in and access his residence even while IQ Fiber and its employees or agents are working within 500 feet of his home so long as [he] does not interact directly or indirectly with IQ Fiber or its employees or agents while entering or exiting his residence, nor at any other time.”
