Florida football freshman Stephon Shivers placed under house arrest in juvenile court

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Florida football freshman Stephon Shivers placed under house arrest in juvenile court

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defensive lineman Stephon Shivers was placed under house arrest after his initial appearance in Alachua County Juvenile Court on June 4.

Shivers, 17,

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Consistent with USA Today policy, the Gainesville Sun is withholding the name and identifying details of the alleged victim. The Gainesville Sun decided to publish the name of Shivers, a juvenile, after he appeared at the public hearing.

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Shivers, dressed in a while polo shirt with a

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logo, appeared before Alachua County Court Circuit Judge Susanne Wilson Bullard, who modified the conditions of his release to include not wearing an ankle monitor. Bullard made exceptions for Shivers’ home detention for school and football practice. In addition, Bullard imposed a strict no-contact rule in which Shivers, members of his family or friends cannot make contact with the alleged victim.

“If there is any contact by you, or by anybody on your behalf, then I will not hesitate to either put you in detention or to have you wear your monitor,” Bullard said. “I can’t make myself any clearer.”

The alleged victim attended the hearing and claimed a history of abuse at the hand of Shivers that has lasted for more than three years. Shivers’ attorney, public defender Karen Yochim, disputed that claim. The alleged victim told the court that she now plans to move from Gainesville.

“I just feel like regardless of what happens, he just needs the right help, because he’s going to be 18 in three months,” she said in court.

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Yochim did not immediately respond to an email seeking additional comment.

Shivers’ father and stepmother attended the hearing and said they are in the process of moving to Gainesville to be closer to their son. Shivers’ stepmother, Martha Shivers, spoke on behalf of her stepson to the judge, saying he never had any behavioral issues in the past at home or in school.

“I’ve never had any problems with him disrespecting me or even talking back to me,” she said.

Shivers is facing a felony charge that is punishable by up to five years to prison and a $5,000 fine. According to a Gainesville Police report, Shivers engaged in a heated alteration with the alleged victim that became physical when he found information on her cell phone.

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According to the GPD report acquired by the Gainesville Sun, Shivers, who weighs 399 pounds, held the alleged victim down, choked her, punched her, pulled off her weave and threw her cell phone against the wall, breaking it and causing damage to her apartment. The alleged victim also told police the accused blocked the doorway, preventing her from leaving.

Shivers denied to police choking the victim and preventing her from leaving the room. He admitted that he threw the victim’s cell phone against the dresser, according to the report.

A four-star recruit from Humboldt, Tennessee, Shivers played one season at Brentwood Academy near Nashville, where he ranked as the No. 24 defensive tackle nationally and No. 7 prospect in Tennessee. He decommitted from Georgia during the recruiting process and chose

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over offers from Auburn, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas and Vanderbilt.

Shivers enrolled early at UF in the spring semester and took part in spring drills and UF’s spring game, where he made two tackles with a pass breakup.

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A Florida spokesperson acknowledged Tuesday that the school is aware of the arrest.

“We will continue to gather facts, cooperate with and monitor the legal and administrative process,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at *****@*****.tld. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com

This story has been updated with additional information.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun:

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#Florida #football #freshman #Stephon #Shivers #house #arrest #juvenile #court

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