An Ocala man who spent nearly two months in the Marion County Jail for strangling a woman in 2020 started off the new year back behind bars after he allegedly attacked a woman and demanded money and cigarettes.
Steven Allen Biles, 29, was charged with battery (second or subsequent offense). He was previously jailed from Aug. 13 to Oct. 9 after being convicted of an August incident in which he strangled a woman and kicked her juvenile son when he tried to intervene.
A Marion County sheriff’s deputy responded to the incident location on Tuesday and heard yelling coming from inside. A juvenile eyewitness came to the door and said Biles was running to the back of the residence. As the deputy entered the home, the victim said Biles struck her on the left eye, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The deputy found Biles in a bedroom closet, hiding under clothes. After being ordered out of the closet, Biles said he and the victim got into an argument and the victim bit him. He said he then left the room and to the closet to separate himself from the victim. The deputy observed a small bite mark on Biles’ arm, the report said.
The victim said she was sitting on a mattress in the living room when Biles entered the residence. She said Biles is not supposed to be there due to a recent Department of Children and Families case. The victim said Biles entered the home and started attacking her, demanding money and cigarettes, according to the report.
The victim said Biles tried to choke her and she bit him to defend herself. She said he then threw a ketchup bottle at her, striking her in the right eye. The victim said she was able to call 911 by hiding her phone under her leg. She said Biles ran to hide when law enforcement arrived, the report said.
The deputy observed the victim’s right eye was red and swollen, and her eye had a cut to the lower and upper parts of her eyelid. There was food and ketchup thrown throughout the living room, according to the report.
The juvenile eyewitness said Biles came into the residence and pulled the victim down and started beating her. She said Biles then entered the kitchen and threw a ketchup bottle at the victim, striking her in the eye. The witness said he heard Biles telling the victim to give him cigarettes, the report said.
Biles was being held Thursday without bond. He’s scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on Feb. 2.