A 28-year-old Ocklawaha man with a prior battery conviction was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after he was accused of slapping a woman in the face and choking her.
On Saturday, August 5, two MCSO deputies and a corporal responded to the incident location in reference to a battery incident. Upon arrival at the home, they made contact with the female victim who advised that Austin Kameron Mayer had placed her in a chokehold at around 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., according to the arrest report.
The victim stated that the physical altercation began when she was sitting on the bed. She advised that Mayer became upset and started slapping her in the face. He then allegedly choked her from the front and rear, according to the MCSO report.
The corporal noted in the report that the victim described the front choke as Mayer placing his hands around her throat. During the rear choke, the victim stated that Mayer was behind her with his inner elbow on her throat.
The victim advised that she did not lose consciousness during the altercation, though she claimed that her ability to breathe was restricted. She also told the deputies and corporal that she had lost consciousness in the past from similar instances, according to the MCSO report.
After the altercation, the victim stated that Mayer took her cellphone and keys to prevent her from calling law enforcement or leaving. She advised that she was able to convince Mayer to return her cellphone, and she contacted her mother. During that call, she stated that she spoke to her mother in Spanish and requested that she “call for help.”
The MCSO report stated that Mayer was recently trespassed by the sheriff’s office, and he was not allowed to be at the victim’s residence.
In the report, the corporal noted that the victim had a large bruise on her right forearm, a small bruise near her right elbow, slight swelling around her eyes, and multiple lacerations around her neck.
The corporal, along with a deputy, made contact with Mayer. After being read his Miranda rights, Mayer claimed that the victim “has an issue with alcohol consumption.” He claimed that the victim attacked him when he refused to let her consume more alcohol, according to the MCSO report.
Mayer further claimed that he only tried to “make (the victim) go to bed,” and he denied taking the victim’s cellphone. The corporal noted that Mayer then stated that if he had taken her phone, it was only until she “sobered up.”
A criminal history search of Mayer revealed that he has a prior conviction in 2020 for battery and domestic battery by strangulation. In addition, he had an active trespass warning that was issued by an MCSO deputy in July 2023.
Mayer was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $5,500 bond. He is facing a felony charge for domestic battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor charge for trespassing.
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 5, according to jail records.