Man Charged With Kidnapping After Tackling Partner Over Unapproved Texts
Update| Dec 5, 2025: This article has been updated to reflect sentencing and minor corrections were issued such as the date of arrest being off by a day and the first and last name of the defendant being incorrectly flipped.
On February 25, 2025, George Riley IV, 26, was sentenced to eight years in the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) following a no contest plea and conviction of two felonies, domestic battery by strangulation and false imprisonment, in addition to a misdemeanor count of battery, court records show.
Facing a maximum sentence of 11 years in prison, Riley took a plea deal that was accepted by Judge James Colaw.
According to court records, Riley was arrested on September 3, 2024 following incidents involving the Alachua County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) and the Gainesville Police Department (GPD). Prosecutors filed a 23-page pretrial detention motion against Riley, which included both police reports in addition to an Orlando Police Department (OPD) report from an Orange County case, for which Riley was out on bond when he committed the offenses in Alachua County.
ACSO Report
ACSO Deputy Daniel Roca reported the following:
"The following probable cause was transferred to me by Deputy Gonzalez. On Thursday, August 29th of 2024 at approximately [12:40 p.m.], the DEFENDANT, George Riley, did commit the offense of false imprisonment and domestic battery upon the VICTIM...
This is only a portion of an incident that started at the Marion County, developed into Alachua County, and then into the city of Gainesville.
The involved parties have been in a romantic relationship for several years, making this incident domestic in nature.
The VICTIM advised that the DEFENDANT forced her into her vehicle in Marion County and held her by the neck for the duration of the trip into the Fairbanks (Alachua County). While driving by the 7850 NE 56th terrace address (dirt road in Fairbanks), the DEFENDANT stopped the vehicle, got out, walked to the passenger side where the VICTIM was and started confronting her about text messages she received on her personal phone. The VICTIM then told the DEFENDANT to stop yelling as they were on a public road and the neighbors would hear them. As the DEFENDANT started walking back to the driver seat of the vehicle, and because she was scared the DEFENDANT would hurt her, the VICTIM jumped out and started running south of 56th terrace in an effort to get away. The DEFENDANT then caught up to the VICTIM, tackled her to the ground, grabbed her by the hair, and placed her back into the vehicle where he held her by her pants, forcibly restraining her against her will. The DEFENDANT then drove south on Waldo road towards the city of Gainesville where he continued to be physically aggressive towards the VICTIM (see CR# GPD24-012776 for more information of the portion of the incident that occurred in the city of Gainesville).
The VICTIM has visible scratches on her right cheek, hands, right shoulder, and neck that are consistent with her descriptions of the incident.
The DEFENDANT was not located; therefore, no Miranda interview was ever conducted. Due to the Victim statements and her physical injuries that are consistent with her description of the events, and because the DEFENDANT has a previous battery conviction (court case number 662015CJ000221), he is being charged with Felony Battery prior conviction (FSS. 784.03.2) and False Imprisonment (FSS. 787.02.2).
End original-Probable Cause.
After reviewing the facts of the incident I determined that due to the suspect grabbing the victim by her hair and forcibly relocating her into the vehicle where she was then held against her will, a more appropriate charge of Kidnapping (787.01) will replace False Imprisonment (FSS. 787.02.2)."
GPD Report
GPD Officer William Schaeffer reported the following:
The DEF viewed content on the VIC's phone and confronted the VIC while accusing her of infidelity.
Sometime later, the DEF again confronted the VIC about infidelity, while they were at the DEF's residence. When the VIC did not engage with the DEF, the DEF suddenly lunged onto the VIC and began choking her. The VIC's airway was impeded; to the extent that she lost consciousness.
When the VIC awoke, she noted that she had drooled onto herself as a result of being choked. The VIC, in a disoriented state, did not respond to the DEF, who continued to relentlessly shout at her. The DEF subsequently choked the VIC a second time, until the VIC again lost consciousness.
Upon waking up for the second time, the DEF was able to retrieve her car keys and flee the DEF's apartment, while the DEF left the room...
The VIC had notable red ligature marks on her neck, in addition to large red marks and/or bruising on her face. To note, the VIC reported the incident to LEO 2 days after it occurred. Despite the lapse in time, the physical evidence to the VIC was still apparent. LEO was unable to locate the DEF.
Earlier in the day, the DEF was accused of Kidnapping/False Imprisonment involving the same VIC, in a related incident (occurred outside of GPD jurisdiction). ACSO filed charges against the DEF for the aforementioned crime (Ref. ASO CR# 02-24-007585). The VIC identified the DEF via his FL DL photo."
OPD Report
OPD Officer Oscar Ocampo reported the following:
"The undersigned has probable cause to believe the above-named defendant on the 22 day of November 2023 at 18:25 at 4630 STAGHORN DRIVE (Zone: 22) in Orange County did commit the following:
On [November 22, 2023], at approximately [6:25 p.m.] , I, Officer Ocampo #34700, and Officer Brown #30959, were conducting an area check of the Orlando Terrace Apartment complex. As we drove down Staghorn Drive we observed an occupied vehicle backed in around building #4630. Officers parked our agency issued marked patrol west of the Jeep and cleared sufficient space for the Jeep to freely move or leave.
As contact was made with the vehicle during our consensual encounter, I observed a male subject that was originally sitting in the driver seat of the vehicle, now standing outside of the vehicle at the driver side door and the door was open. As I circled the front of the vehicle toward the passenger side, I observed a small child sitting in the front passenger seat. I circled back to the driver side of the vehicle and as I approached the open door, I could immediately smell the odor of cannabis emanating from within the vehicle.
The male subject, who was later identified as George Riley IV (09-11-1999), was secured. Both Riley and the vehicle were searched based on a probable cause (odor of cannabis).
Within the center console of the vehicle, approximately 38 grams of cannabis were located. The cannabis was distributed between two clear plastic bags (24 grams and 14 grams). A field THC test was conducted on the suspected cannabis, yielding a presumptive positive finding for THC. Within the same center console, I located a 'grinder,' which is a type of drug paraphernalia, that is used to break down cannabis into small pieces for consumption. The grinder also contained cannabis residue within.
A Black M&P Shield 9mm firearm (Serial#JCT8700) was located in the center console, directly under the cannabis listed above. Through my training and experience it is my opinion, the firearm will, is designed to, or may be readily converted to dispel a projectile by the action of an explosion. There was one round loaded in the chamber and a loaded magazine, which was securely seated inside the firearm.
After running Riley via Orlando Teletype, it was discovered that Riley was a two-time convicted felon.
Probable cause was established to charge George Riley IV with the following offenses:
790.23.1a: Possession of a Firearm/Ammo by Convicted Felon 893.13(6)(A):103: Possession of Cannabis over 20 grams with a Weapon
George Riley IV was placed under arrest and transported to the Orange County Jail without incident. All evidence located on scene will be placed into Property and Evidence at the Orlando Police Department and sent to FDLE for further testing. My body camera was activated."
Regarding his Orlando case, Riley was not convicted of carrying a concealed firearm but was convicted of the other charges, and he was sentenced to one year and one day in prison with credit for 229 days time served in jail. Based on court records, and Riley not having a scheduled release date on the FDC website, it's unclear if the sentence is consecutive or concurrent.
According to the FDC website, Riley is housed in the Mayo Correctional Institute.
