A 42-year-old Silver Springs man with two prior felony battery convictions was arrested after a woman claimed that he punched her in the face during an argument that became physical.
On Monday, January 16, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a local residence in reference to a physical disturbance. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the female victim who advised that she had been battered by Paul Fernando Gonzalez, according to the MCSO report.
The victim told the deputy that the incident began when Gonzalez returned home after visiting a friend. According to the victim, an argument quickly ensued between them, and Gonzalez proceeded to punch her several times on the left side of her face.
In the MCSO report, the deputy noted that the victim’s left ear was “very red.” In addition, the victim had small red scratch marks near the side of her face and on top of her ear.
The deputy interviewed a juvenile witness who advised that Gonzalez and the victim had gotten into a verbal altercation. During the argument, the witness claimed that Gonzalez hit the victim’s face several times, according to the MCSO report.
The deputy made contact with Gonzalez. After being read his Miranda rights, Gonzalez confirmed that he had gotten into an argument with the victim shortly after he returned to the residence. He further stated that “nothing physical ever took place” between them.
While speaking with the deputy, Gonzalez claimed that the victim had thrown several objects at him during the incident. He stated that he was not injured by any of those thrown objects.
A computer search of Gonzalez was conducted, and it revealed that he was previously convicted of battery in Osceola County on October 26, 2001 and February 8, 2010, according to the MCSO report.
Gonzalez was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $25,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for committing battery (second or subsequent offense).
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21, according to jail records.