A Dunnellon man who accused his neighbors of peering into his home was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly threatened to harm them with a baseball bat.
On Saturday, March 16, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a residence on SW 121st Terrace in Dunnellon in reference to a verbal altercation.
Upon arrival at the incident location, the deputy made contact with a female victim who advised that her neighbor, identified as 62-year-old Douglas Boynton, had approached the home while wielding a baseball bat, according to the arrest report.
The victim stated that Boynton accused her and others at the home of “looking into his windows.” She told the deputy that she went inside her home while her spouse and a witness remained outside.
The report stated that Boynton was standing within 20 feet of the two individuals outside the home. While holding the baseball bat, Boynton allegedly threatened them by stating, “I will beat your (expletive).”
The deputy made contact with Boynton. After being read his Miranda rights, Boynton admitted that he went to the residence while wielding a baseball bat to “confront his neighbors about looking into his windows.” He claimed that he “only brought the bat for his protection,” according to the report.
During the post-Miranda interview, Boynton claimed that the individuals at the incident location are “always looking into his windows” without leaving their property. The deputy noted in the report that Boynton lived far enough away from the incident location that viewing inside his windows would be “impossible” without binoculars or a viewing device, which Boynton did not mention.
Boynton was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail. He was released from jail the following day, and he is being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16, according to jail records.