Judge Withholds Death Threat Conviction for Former UF Clinical Research Assistant Who Pleaded to 15-Year Felony

In August, Judge Robert Groeb granted Jarvis James Wright, 33, a withheld adjudication for sending a written threat to kill, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.  

Prior to his arrest, Wright was employed as a clinical research assistant at the University of Florida, court records show. 

On January 14, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to the victim reporting that Wright was threatening to kill her. 

During a child custody dispute, Wright sent the victim multiple threats, including death threats. 

During the texting argument, Wright created a group chat with his mother, the victim and himself before sending another death threat. 

The victim advised that when she was dating Wright there was domestic violence and death threats that she did not report. The victim stated this specific incident scared and that she believed Wright would come and kill her. 

"There are currently no court ordered child custody arrangements," the arrest report states.

Wright reportedly told police he sent the message because he was “angry” and wanted to make the victim mad.

Wright was released after posting a $100,000 bond set by Judge Susan Miller Jones under orders to wear an ankle monitor and have no contact with the victim.

A UF spokeswoman told GnvInfo that an "employee by the name of" Jarvis Wright "resigned from his position as Clinical Research Assistant in the College of Medicine on Jan. 22, 2026. This position was classified as a temporary employee position, which he held from March 2021 until the date of his resignation." 

According a motion to modify bond conditions, filed in June, “Since his release, Mr. Wright has relocated to Polk County, Florida. As a consequence of the above-styled case, Mr. Wright lost his long-term employment in Gainesville, Florida. Since moving to Polk County, Mr. Wright has been proactive with seeking gainful employment. Most recently, he has been able to secure employment with a landscaping company. Mr. Wright is required to wear high boots as part of his work uniform. The GPS monitor is positioned in a way that it interferes with Mr. Wright's ability to properly wear his work boots.”

Groeb granted the request to remove the ankle monitor. Groeb rarely, if ever, imposes ankle monitors and often makes his distaste for them clear from the bench. Groeb has said a number of times that he doesn’t believe ankle monitors are effective. 

On August 17, Wright pleaded no contest to sending a written threat to kill. The plea was open and there was no sentencing agreement with the prosecution, court records show. Groeb sentenced Wright to two years of probation and withheld a formal conviction, allowing him to avoid classification as a convicted felon.  

Wright's probation conditions include no contact with the victim.

This is the second time in recent months that GnvInfo has reported on Groeb giving a probation sentence to a domestic violence offender when he could have imposed prison time.

Groeb, who will be retiring soon, has described himself as a harsh sentencing judge, but it's clear he's willing to make exceptions in some cases involving domestic violence and death threats.