Jury Trial Set in USPS Racial Assault Case, Defendant Motions to Waive Presence

A man facing an aggravated stalking charge after reportedly racially assaulting a mailwoman wants to waive his presence at his upcoming trial.

On June 12, 2025, Gainesville Police Department officers arrested Avi Benjamin Satlow, 31, and charged him with aggravated stalking against a United States Postal Services (USPS) employee.

The incident began when the victim was making deliveries at Satlow’s apartment complex. 

According to the arrest report, the victim was inside her USPS vehicle when Satlow exited his residence and began calling her derogatory names and racial slurs, such as the n-word. Satlow reportedly moved in front of the victim’s vehicle when she tried to drive away.

With no way to leave the scene, the victim locked her doors and called 911 along with her work supervisors. 

The victim’s supervisors arrived on the scene to find Satlow still engaging the victim. The supervisors were able to get Satlow to disengage, and he was contacted by police shortly after. 

The arrest report states, “This is not the first incident where [Satlow] has engaged the victim while in the course of her duties. [Satlow’s] ongoing course of conduct has been causing substantial emotional distress for a period of months, only ceasing when the victim is assigned to an alternate mail delivery route."

Satlow's first appearance order states he is a "law school graduate" and is "severely autistic."

Based on his LinkedIn account, Satlow identified as an “aspiring lawyer and entrepreneur,” also formerly running a nonprofit called “AviCares.” 

On July 11, 2025, prosecutors formally filed charges against Satlow, specifying that he made a “credible threat” against the victim.

Prosecutors indicated they would file for pretrial detention after Satlow’s arrest but ultimately decided not to. 

On July 15, 2025, Judge Robert Groeb ordered Satlow to enter a treatment program at The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center and to be “fitted with a monitor before being released.” 

On July 23, 2025, Assistant State Attorney Celeste Corrales Ramirez motioned to revoke Satlow’s pretrial release status. 

Corrales Ramirez told the court, “This morning, Defense Counsel advised [me] that [Satlow] walked out of the facility yesterday afternoon and that he left a note indicating that he could no longer stay there… Defense counsel confirmed that hospital staff has not had contact with [Satlow] since yesterday and that neither they nor his family have had any contact with [him].”

Groeb granted the motion and issued a warrant. The warrant wasn’t served until December 2025 after Satlow was arrested by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Satlow has remained in jail without bond since he was re-arrested.

Satlow’s case is set to go before a jury on June 22, 2026.

On May 8, 2026, Satlow’s attorney, Michelle Suskauer, submitted a motion to waive Satlow’s presence at the trial.

The motion argues that Satlow is “diagnosed with severe autism” that “sometimes manifests itself by him laughing and smiling when he is uncomfortable and nervous… Satlow believes he would significantly harm his ability to have a fair trial if the jury witnesses him acting in a perceived joyful manner especially when an Alleged Victim is providing testimony.” 

Groeb will hear the motion on Tuesday. 

If found guilty, Satlow could be sentenced to five years in prison.