Florida Gators CB J.C. Jackson arrested in connection with felony armed robbery

Florida Gators CB Florida Gators redshirt freshman cornerback J.C. Jackson, 19, was arrested Saturday afternoon and charged with a first-degree felony in connection an armed robbery.

Currently being held in Alachua County Jail on a $150,000 bond, Jackson allegedly made plans to visit the residence of an acquaintance in order to smoke marijuana and opened his door without knocking before supposedly taking a phone call and leaving the apartment. That is when two men that arrived with him entered the residence, threatened those in the apartment with a handgun and forced them to the floor before taking their belongings, which included $382, marijuana and two video game consoles.

After being identified in a lineup and contacted, Jackson turned himself into the Alachua County police. The two alleged acquaintances remain at large.

“We are aware of the news involving J.C. Jackson, and he is currently dealing with a serious issue,” head coach Jim McElwain said in a statement released by the school. “We don’t condone any of his actions, and it is not something that reflects on the expectations we have in the program. It is being handled accordingly due to the severity of his actions.”

Jackson, a standout during spring practice who took a redshirt in his first year with the program, was expected to return kicks and serve on the first team secondary.

This is the second time Jackson has been involved in an incident involving a gun since joining the Gators. While in his hometown of Immokalee, Florida, on Christmas Eve, Jackson was grazed by a bullet during a drive by shooting while sitting in a car. Just days earlier, Jackson was in a car driven by sophomore quarterback Treon Harris that was pulled over on campus; marijuana was found in the vehicle but no one was charged with possession as it was not on anyone’s person.