A 69-year-old Ocala man was arrested after he admitted to punching his step-grandson in the stomach for not paying his rent.
Richard Alonzo McGinnis, of 2750 SW 159th Court, was charged with simple battery at the incident, which happened recently at the victim’s residence on S.W. 183rd Terrace.
The victim told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy that McGinnis came to the residence for rent money. He said he told McGinnis he didn’t have the money and would get it to him the next day, and McGinnis became more upset, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The victim said McGinnis punched him in the stomach once and walked away, and he called law enforcement. He showed the deputy where he was punched, which was more red in color than the rest of his body. A witness told the deputy he watched McGinnis strike the victim in the stomach over rent money, the report said.
The deputy spoke with McGinnis, who was on the front porch. He said he was upset since his step-grandson had not paid him $40 in rent. While explaining his side of the incident, he spontaneously said, “I punched him in the stomach,” according to the report.
McGinnis was placed in handcuffs and taken to the deputy’s patrol vehicle. After being read his Miranda warning, he again admitted he punched the victim in the stomach because he was upset about being refused his money, the report said.
McGinnis was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released on $1,000 bond.