An Ocala man upset over losing his job is being held in the Marion County Jail after allegedly striking a woman with her slipper during a domestic dispute.
Zachary Bryant Hoopaugh, 31, told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy there were no issues when they arrived at his residence on Northwest 49th Avenue on Wednesday afternoon, but the victim said she was the one who called 911. She said Hoopaugh had become upset with her and began calling her names and telling her to move out.
The victim said she cowered on the couch while Hoopaugh stood over her yelling. He then removed her slipper and allegedly struck her left forearm with it. After momentarily walking away, he returned and struck her on the right side of her face with the slipper, a sheriff’s office report states, adding that the deputy observed redness just under the woman’s eye.
The victim displayed several old bruises on her chest and forearms that she said were caused by Hoopaugh on New Year’s Eve. She said he wanted to take her and her children to a fireworks display but she didn’t want to go because he had been verbally abusive to her. The victim said a verbal argument became physical when Hoopaugh pushed her down on their bed, placing his hands on her chest, neck and forearms, which caused the bruises.
Hoopaugh told the deputy he has been stressed after recently losing his job and that the victim is unhappy with the condition of the home and his vehicle. He said he told her to move out if she has issues with her living situation. He said the victim was trying to kick him while he stood over her on the couch and that’s why he struck her with the slipper, the report says.
Hoopaugh admitted to holding the woman down and pressing his hands against her chest on Dec. 31. And he added that while holding her down, he removed her hands from her face so she could see how frustrated he was, the report says.
Hoopaugh was charged with two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery and is being held on $1,000 bond. He’s due in Marion County Court on Feb. 14.