An Ocala woman accused of snatching the glasses off a man’s face and scratching his forehead was caught in an audio recording saying she’d have her daughter lie and tell police the man beat her.
Victoria Edith Jones, 61, was charged with simple domestic battery after the altercation, which happened shortly before 4 a.m. Wednesday at the Best Western hotel at 3701 SW 38th Ave.
According to the Ocala Police Department report, the victim told the responding officer he and Jones had an argument and she demanded he leave the room, which was paid for by Jones’ daughter but was in the victim’s name. The victim said Jones snatched the glasses off his face, injuring his forehead. The officer observed two small abrasions on the victim’s forehead.
The victim also replayed an audio recording he captured during the argument. On the recording, the victim is heard calmly stating twice that the room is in his name and that he is not leaving. Jones could be heard angrily demanding he leave, cursing and calling him a derogatory name, according to the report.
Jones is also heard on the recording allegedly saying she was going to have her daughter call police and say the victim was beating her. The victim replied, “So you’re going to have your daughter lie for you?” She replied, “Yes.” This exchange happened twice on the recording, according to the report.
When interviewed by the officer, Jones said the victim “body-slammed” her onto the bed. She said she had no injuries and the officer did not observe any visible injuries on her. When asked about the victim’s injuries, she said he grabbed the glasses off his own face and injured himself, according to the report.
When told about the recording, Jones said she knew he was recording her at the time. She said her daughter wouldn’t lie, and that the victim really does beat her and she is in fear for her safety. Asked why she didn’t call 911, she said because she loves the victim, according to the report.
The officer told Jones she didn’t sound like she was in fear of the victim on the recording, but instead sounded angry as she was cursing and calling him derogatory names. Jones said she was angry at him for cheating on her, and that they have been living together in a domestic relationship for three years, the report says.
At the time of her arrest, Jones became distraught and insisted the victim was the aggressor. She said he grabbed her by the chin and that she was injured. The officer re-examined her and did not observe any injuries. A domestic violence packet was completed and presented to the victim, but he refused to complete a written statement, according to the report.
Jones is being held in the Marion County Jail on $1,000 bond. She’ll answer to the simple domestic battery charge in Marion County Court on May 17.