Gainesville teenager receives 35-year sentence

A Gainesville teenager received a 35-year prison sentence after he pled no contest to attempted murder and multiple felony charges.

In a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) report sent Wednesday, Eric Robinson Jr., 19, was sentenced on May 26 to 30 years, plus an additional five years, for several felony charges committed in 2021.

The sentencing came following a plea of nolo contendere was entered for the crimes.

The series of events started in October 2021 when Robinson was charged with attempted felony murder, discharge of a firearm from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of a person, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon from an incident that occurred at the 700 block of Northwest 8th Street in Gainesville.

According to the GPD report, an arrest warrant was issued and, on Nov. 5, 2021, Robinson was arrested on that warrant along with a warrant from an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) case.

Robinson received additional charges during an interview with GPD detectives for tampering with evidence.

In December 2021, GPD detectives also charged Robinson with armed home invasion robbery and attempted felony murder from an incident that occurred at 4117 SW 20th Ave.