A homeless man found himself behind bars early Monday morning after forcing his way into another man’s room at an Ocala motel.
When a Marion County sheriff’s deputy arrived at the Economy Inn, located at 3520 W Silver Springs Blvd., the owner’s son told him that 20-year-old James D. Kuhns had been staying at the motel when he was on probation but he was longer renting a room there. He said Kuhns had also tried to start a fight with him and his father before leaving the motel on foot heading west on Silver Springs Boulevard toward Interstate 75, a sheriff’s office report states.
The deputy spoke with the 53-year-old victim, who said he had been sitting outside his room with the door slightly ajar when Kuhns approached him and told him that he was going to enter his room so he could stay there. The victim said he stood in the doorway and told Kuhns to stay out of his room. But he said Kuhns pushed him in the chest with open hands and went into his room, the report says.
The victim said he convinced Kuhns to leave. But Kuhns said he was going to get food and would then return to the room, the report says.
After speaking with a witness who confirmed the victim’s story, the deputy headed west on Silver Springs Boulevard and located Kuhns a short distance away. He was detained and placed in the back of the deputy’s patrol vehicle and after being read his rights, he admitted to being at the Economy Inn and claimed that a man named “Grasshopper” gave him permission to stay in the victim’s room.
Kuhns was then transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with burglary with battery. He was being held on $25,000 bond and is due in court on July 30 at 9 a.m. to answer to the charge.
Kuhns is no stranger to the Marion County legal system, having been in the jail five times since March 2018. During those arrests, he’s faced charges of assault, violating felony probation for burglary of an unoccupied structure and criminal mischief, trespassing after warning, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and possession of an alcoholic beverage by a person under the age of 21, jail records show.