An Ocala man with a previous conviction for domestic battery is being held without bond in the Marion County Jail after allegedly striking a woman several times during an argument on Sunday.
Stephen G. Clarke, 45, of SW 148th Place, was charged with domestic battery, second or subsequent offense. He was previously convicted of domestic battery in Lake County in March 2014.
The victim told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy that Clarke was intoxicated at the time of the incident and he is violent when he drinks. She said Clarke threw her off the bed and smacked her several times, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The deputy observed a red mark with slight swelling near the victim’s right eye, a red mark and small scratch on her right bicep, and a red mark on her right forearm. She said the injuries were caused by Clarke during the altercation. The victim also had a scratch on her calf that she said was caused by the family dog, the report said.
Clarke appeared very intoxicated when the deputy interviewed him in the master bedroom. He had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, his speech was very hesitant, his words were slurred, and he had difficulty holding his balance when standing, according to the report.
Clarke told the deputy nothing happened, and there had been no fighting. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, and he will answer to domestic battery charge in Marion County Court on July 9.