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Ocala
Friday, March 29, 2024

Ocala man arrested after choking mother whose children jumped in to defend her

A 37-year-old Ocala man is being charged with battery and child cruelty after allegedly choking a woman until her children attempted to intervene.

On August 15, a victim reported a verbal argument happened between her and 37-year-old Alejandro Cortes. The victim claims Cortes became angry and shoved her onto a couch, jumped on top of her and choked her with his hands until she could barely breath, according to the sheriff’s report.

Children jump on mans back to get him off their mother during fight
Alejandro Cortes

The victim says she kicked Cortes multiple times before her juvenile children jumped on him to get him off, the report states.

The victim says she was eventually able to break free before alleging Cortes slid the couch in front of the door and told her she was not going anywhere, the report states.

The victim says she then fled to the master bedroom and locked the door. The victim claims Cortes kicked the door open and took her purse so she could not call 911, the report states.

The victim says she was finally able to get her purse, grab her children and flee the scene.

The victim claims the physical abuse from Cortes has been going on for years within the house and her children have witnessed it multiple times, according to the report.

Cortes was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail with a bond set at $11,000. He is charged with domestic battery and cruelty towards children. A court date is set for September 21 at 9 a.m., jail records show.