A Silver Springs man is accused of slapping a woman during a fight over money.
Damen Ashlee Stahl, 40, was charged with simple battery after the recent incident, which happened at his residence on NE Highway 314.
Before arriving at the incident location, Marion County sheriff’s deputies were advised that Stahl had left the scene on foot. A deputy saw Stahl walking in the 11200 block of NE Highway 314 and asked him what was going on. Stahl said he and the victim had an argument over money, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The deputy noticed a small laceration on Stahl’s face. Asked how it happened, Stahl said the victim cut him, the report said.
The victim said Stahl took a person (whose name was redacted) fishing to give her a break and was drinking beer when he returned. She said Stahl had given her money and asked for some of it back after she declined to give him a ride. The victim said Stahl started verbally abusing her and her father, according to the report.
The victim said Stahl kicked a trash can, causing it to fall over and nearly strike her father. She said Stahl then slapped her on the left side of her face while he was holding his cell phone in his hand. The victim said Stahl left and started walking towards the roadway after she said she was calling 911. The victim said Stahl said she saw Stahl in the roadway hitting and yelling at himself, the report said.
The victim’s father, who was outside during the altercation, told the deputy he saw Stahl strike the victim with his right hand, but he didn’t see the phone in his right hand until after he struck her. He described Stahl hitting the victim rather violently, according to the report.
There was redness on the left side of the victim’s face and the skin was raised. She declined medical attention, the report said.
Interviewed again after being read his Miranda warning, Stahl said he didn’t strike the victim and she attacked him. The deputy noticed the smell of alcohol on Stahl’s breath while he was speaking. Asked if he had been drinking, Stahl originally said no but later recanted and said he had been drinking, according to the report.
Stahl was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released the next day on $2,000 bond. He will appear in Marion County Court on June 9.