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Ocala
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ocala man with a black eye jailed after nasty spat

Willie J. Stephens

An Ocala man who called 911 when he saw his black eye in the mirror the morning after a fight was determined to be the aggressor in the incident and arrested.

Willie J. Stephens, 56, of SW 90th Court, was charged with domestic battery and aggravated domestic assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Stephens was across the street from his residence and was loudly uncooperative when Marion County sheriff’s deputies responded Monday morning. Deputies could smell a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and observed his right eye was swollen, according to the sheriff’s office report.

The victim said he and Stephens had gotten into a verbal altercation Sunday night. He said Stephens asked him to call his cell phone because he had misplaced it and became angry when the victim refused to call. The victim said the altercation turned physical when Stephens punched him on the right side of his face, causing him to fall to the ground, the report said.

A witness told deputies she heard the argument about the cell phone and then heard a loud thud, which sounded like the victim was hit, and then the sound of the victim falling to the ground. She said when she looked in the living room, where the altercation was, she saw the victim stand up from the ground. Another witness, who wanted to stay out of it, said she heard – but did not see – the incident, according to the report.

Deputies observed that the victim had a bruise under his right eye and two small lacerations near his bruise, as well as blood stains from the injury on the right side of his shirt. The victim also said Stephens retrieved a machete from under his bed and threatened to kill him. The victim said he was in fear for his life because he believed Stephens was capable of killing him. A deputy observed the machete under Stephens’ bed, the report said.

The victim said Stephens went to his room after the altercation ended, and then later came out and tried to apologize to the victim, who told Stephens to leave him alone. That further angered Stephens. The victim said he didn’t want to call 911 on Stephens because he has an alcohol problem and has been violent with him in the past when he drinks, according to the report.

The victim said when Stephens woke up Monday morning, he was still intoxicated and threatened him again. The victim said Stephens called 911 after he saw his eye in the mirror, which was corroborated by both witnesses, the report stated.

Due to witness statements and the victim’s injuries, Stephens was determined to be the aggressor and was arrested. He remained largely uncooperative and continued to make threats to the victim during the arrest process, according to the report.

Stephens is being held in the Marion County Jail on $30,000 bond. His next appearance in Marion County Court is scheduled for June 18.