Violent Criminal Convicted of Racist Attack, Sentenced to Two Weeks in Jail
Judge Susan Miller Jones sentenced Jacob Abraham Morris, 45, to two weeks in jail on September 24 after he took a plea deal and was convicted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and resisting an officer without violence.
On March 16, 2025, around 2:00 am, GPD Officer Justin Snitselaar was on patrol in a parking lot in downtown Gainesville when he observed Morris in a verbal altercation with another individual. Morris called the victim multiple names, including racial slurs.
Morris left the location but returned soon after and reengaged. Morris was “raising his hands into clenched fists, taking a fighting stance, and taking steps towards the other subjects while telling them he was ready to fight,” Snitselaar reported.
Morris continued to call the victims racial slurs and ignored police commands to stop, even as he was arrested.
Snitselaar reported, “[Morris] spontaneously stated that he was defending himself, despite LEO observing him approach and engage the subjects. Once detained, [Morris] advised he engaged in the altercation because the subjects were black, and that ‘LEO should understand.’ [Morris] was also visibly intoxicated. His breath emanated alcoholic beverages in the form of beer. He had glassy eyes, slurred speech, and could not stand without swaying. He also could not follow simple questions without repeating himself.”
Morris has been arrested for several violent crimes throughout his life.
In July 2012, Morris was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and obstructing justice for allegedly holding a woman down, striking her multiple times and smashing her phone against her head when she tried to call for help. The State Attorney’s Office did not prosecute him, court records show.
In May 2013, Morris was arrested and charged with domestic battery and false imprisonment for allegedly preventing his ex-girlfriend from leaving their apartment, using physical force to stop her. At least some of the incident was caught on video, but the State Attorney’s Office did not pursue the charges, court records show.
In July 2013, Morris was arrested and charged with battery for allegedly grabbing a woman in front of two witnesses, who both completed sworn statements. The State Attorney’s Office dropped the charges because the victim didn’t wish to prosecute, court records show.
In July 2015, Morris was arrested and charged with domestic battery and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. The arrest report reveals that Morris has three felony convictions that occurred prior to July 2015, however, the cases likely occurred outside Alachua County, as they don’t appear on the local court records website. The arrest report states Morris beat the victim and indicates he sexually assaulted her before police found brass knuckles in his pocket. Morris was not convicted for the battery, but he was convicted of possessing a weapon as a convicted felon.
In December 2016, Morris was arrested and charged with domestic battery and domestic battery by strangulation. Police saw the victim’s clothes stained with blood when they answered the door. The victim told police Morris brutally beat her and choked her because she got mad after finding out he cheated. The State Attorney’s Office dropped the charges due to "insufficient evidence,” court records show.
In November 2020, Morris was sentenced to roughly three weeks in jail and one year of probation following a domestic battery conviction. Morris was initially facing a felony charge for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, but the case was downgraded to a misdemeanor. Morris was caught on video, in front of two witnesses, chasing and attacking the victim with a metal pressure washer. The arrest report shows the victim denied the altercation’s occurrence to police, saying, "neighbors don’t like them because of their interracial relationship.”
In November 2022, Morris was arrested and charged with aggravated assault for screaming at cars in the middle of the road and allegedly following a man with a kitchen knife and threatening to kill him. Two witnesses told police they saw Morris arguing with his girlfriend and said he was “wielding a knife in his hand erratically and threatening to rape and kill… [The witnesses] could not see who [Morris] was threatening.”
In March 2024, Morris was convicted of aggravated assault and sentenced to one year in jail for making threats towards two people while showing off his gun. Morris was not charged with possessing a weapon as a convicted felon.
As of this writing, Morris is still serving his current sentence, but he’s scheduled to be released in a few days. With no probation, Morris lacks legal restrictions and oversight.
