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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Ocala man accused of strangling woman during family spat

Robert James Poissant

A 21-year-old Ocala man was arrested after he allegedly strangled a woman and threatened to shoot up her house during a family disagreement.

Robert James Poissant was charged with domestic battery after the incident, which happened around 11 p.m. June 28 at a residence on Cherry Course. The relationship between Poissant and the victim was not disclosed in the Marion County Sheriff’s Office report.

A sheriff’s deputy responded to a report that there was a weapon possibly involved in a domestic battery. The victim told the deputy she had been in an altercation with Poissant but wouldn’t disclose exactly what had taken place. The victim was distraught and uncooperative when asked about the incident, and she had a large red mark on her right eye, according to the report.

Deputies tried to speak with Poissant once they were allowed inside the home, but he was uncooperative and wouldn’t come out of the bedroom. Once he finally came out, Poissant remained uncooperative and argumentative, so he was placed in the back of a patrol car, the report said.

The witness who reported the incident told the deputy that the victim and Poissant got into a physical confrontation after Poissant made statements that he had to leave to take care of some business. The witness said Poissant stepped out into the garage and was placing a pair of latex gloves on his hands, according to the report.

The witness said the victim came out of the home and told Poissant she did not like him leaving, nor did she want him to leave wearing all black with gloves. The witness said an argument ensued and Poissant said he was going to shoot up the victim’s home. She said at that point, Poissant put the firearm down and continued to argue with the victim, the report said.

The witness said Poissant shoved the victim onto the ground and straddled her before he started striking her in the face with a closed fist. The witness said she ran into the house and tried to wake up the victim’s husband. She said at that point, the two ended up separated and Poissant retreated to his bedroom, according to the report.

After dodging several questions, the victim eventually said Poissant beat her. She said he was on drugs and had not been acting like himself over the previous few days. The victim said Poissant placed both hands around her neck, but she never lost consciousness and was always able to breathe. When asked, the victim would not say whether she was threatened with a firearm, the report said.

The victim’s husband said he came outside after the incident had already occurred, so he didn’t witness anything. He said he could only hear yelling from within the home. Poissant’s girlfriend said she didn’t see a physical altercation take place. She said Poissant left the bedroom and she could hear a verbal altercation, but she did not see any type of physical violence, according to the report.

A black firearm was found on the driver’s seat of a dark-colored four-door vehicle registered to Poissant, the report said.

After being read his Miranda rights, Poissant said the victim came into the room and struck him in the face with a closed fist before pushing him. He said he struck the victim back to defend himself. He said the victim is an alcoholic and has a history of being violent when consuming alcohol, according to the report.

Poissant said he was struck in the eyebrow with a closed fist, but no marks were observed on him. He said his girlfriend witnessed the incident and could speak on his behalf about everything that took place. Poissant said the firearm recovered in the front seat of his vehicle belonged to him, the report said.

Poissant was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released the next day on $5,000 bond. He will appear in Marion County Court on Aug. 4.