On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Gainesville Public Information Services reported that a man facing felony charges for theft has accused Florida Judge David Kreider of bias during a recent case management hearing. Jeremy Brumbaugh, 47, was arrested in April for allegedly stealing $300 worth of batteries from Lowe’s and attempting to sell them at a pawn shop. He has been held in the Alachua County Jail for five months, with a bond set at $17,500. Court documents indicate that the Public Defender’s Office has not requested a bond reduction on his behalf.
During the case management hearing on August 26, Brumbaugh’s public defender, Katie Rice, communicated that the State Attorney’s Office had presented a plea offer, which Brumbaugh wished to counter. Rice noted that the state denied this counteroffer and expressed readiness to proceed to trial. However, Brumbaugh believed the purpose of the hearing was to file a motion to compel the State to release video evidence related to his case.
Judge Kreider clarified that the court could not compel the State to provide evidence that it does not possess. Brumbaugh contended that the State’s alleged withholding of discovery materials has severely hindered his trial preparation. He cited a previous remark by Kreider suggesting that the absence of evidence would not provide him with an easy escape from jail, claiming it demonstrated bias towards the prosecution.
In response, Judge Kreider stated he would need to review the transcript of prior hearings to confirm his comments. He also informed Brumbaugh that he could pursue a motion for a different judge if he wished. Rice mentioned that a request for a video recording of the hearing had been submitted.
Brumbaugh is scheduled to return to court on September 8 for a pretrial conference.
