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Friday, March 29, 2024

Clay County man charged with slapping woman who told him to go home

Bobby Eugene Fife

A Clay County man with a prior domestic battery conviction was arrested after he allegedly slapped a Marion County woman in the face when she wouldn’t let him spend the night at her home.

Bobby Eugene Fife, 58, of Middleburg, was charged with domestic battery (second or subsequent offense) after the incident, which happened around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. Fife was previously convicted of domestic battery against the victim in Clay County, according to court records.

The victim told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy that Fife came to her residence for the day and when it was time for him to leave, he refused to go. She said she told him to leave and was walking him out to his car. The victim said once outside the residence, Fife started arguing with her and asking if he could stay the night, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office report.

The victim said when she told Fife he couldn’t stay and needed to leave, he struck her on the right side of her face with his hand. She said her son had come outside when he heard them arguing and he witnessed the incident. The victim said Fife has been arrested about eight times in the past for battering and violating bond conditions against her, the report said.

The juvenile witness said he was laying down in his bedroom when he heard his mother and Fife arguing. He said when he came out of the residence, he saw Fife slapped the victim in the face. The witness said when he saw Fife hit his mom, he called 911, but his mom took the phone from him, according to the report.

The deputy observed the right side of the victim’s face was swollen underneath her right eye and the area was red in color, the report said.

After being read his Miranda warning, Fife said he didn’t strike the victim and thought the only reason she called 911 was to get him to leave. Fife is being held in the Marion County Jail on $10,000 bond and is due to appear in Marion County Court on Nov. 24.