An Ocala man was arrested after detectives said he sexually battered a teenage girl at Doe Lake Campground in Marion County.
According to an arrest affidavit from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Donald Ronald Gates III, 43, was taken into custody early Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, and charged with sexual battery on a minor, lewd and lascivious molestation, and battery (second or subsequent offense). He is being held without bond at the Marion County Jail.
Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit began investigating on Monday, Oct. 6, after a school resource officer received a note from a student stating Gates assaulted her over the weekend. The student was taken to Kimberly’s Center for a forensic interview and medical exam.
Investigators said the student identified Doe Lake, near Umatilla, as the location of the incident in the early morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 4. She told detectives Gates drove her there, threatened to kill her if she told anyone, and sexually battered her. Clothing from the night of the incident was recovered as evidence.
Detectives interviewed Gates, who denied the allegations. According to the affidavit, he gave inconsistent statements but acknowledged his vehicle—a silver 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer—may have needed a tow near the Doe Lake area around the time in question.
Records show Gates has a prior battery conviction from April 21, 2022. Due to the nature of the current charges, he was booked into the Marion County Jail without bond pending further proceedings.
