A 20-year-old Ocala man said his temper got the best of him when he beat up a homeless man who made derogatory comments toward his girlfriend.
At around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, a Marion County sheriff’s deputy on routine patrol came upon two vehicles in the middle of the roadway in the 6700 block of SW 60th Avenue. A witness told the deputy he saw Jonathan E. Westman hit the victim in the face six to eight times with a closed fist, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Westman admitted to hitting the victim and said his temper got the best of him. Asked why he hit the victim, Westman said the victim made contact with his girlfriend earlier in the day and made derogatory comments towards her, the report said.
The victim, who is homeless, was laying in the grassy area on the corner of Highway 200 and SW 60th Avenue. His injuries included a possible broken nose, torn bottom lip and large swollen bumps over his left eye and on his left temple. The victim was taken by ambulance to West Marion Community Hospital, according to the report.
Westman was charged with simple battery and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Saturday on $2,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on July 21.