An Ocala man was arrested on battery, grand theft, and robbery charges after he allegedly choked his girlfriend and stole her wallet following an argument over a missing, winning scratch-off lottery ticket.
On Monday, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal responded to a local residence in reference to a physical altercation and theft incident. The female victim advised that her boyfriend, 45-year-old Steven Lamar Houston, had “placed his hands around her neck and choked her,” according to the arrest report.
The victim stated that Houston needed to go to Gainesville to claim a prize from a winning scratch-off lottery ticket. At around 8 a.m. on Monday morning, the victim and Houston left for Gainesville, though Houston allegedly forgot to bring the winning ticket.
Upon returning home, Houston went inside the bedroom to search for the scratch-off ticket while the victim waited outside in the vehicle, according to the victim’s statement. However, Houston became upset when he was unable to locate the ticket, and he allegedly accused the victim of “stealing it.”
The victim told the corporal that Houston grabbed her purse, and she followed him into the residence. She then watched as Houston “ripped her purse apart,” and he allegedly placed her iPhone into his pocket.
Moments later, Houston allegedly grabbed the victim’s neck, threw her onto the bed, and started choking her. The victim stated that she was briefly unable to breathe, though he quickly let go of her neck when she “kicked him in the testicles,” according to the report.
After the altercation, Houston allegedly grabbed the victim’s wallet before leaving the residence. The corporal noted that the wallet contained debit and credit cards belonging to the victim, and Houston also allegedly left with the victim’s iPhone in his possession.
The report mentioned that the stolen items were valued at approximately $830.
Houston was located, placed under arrest, and booked into Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held on a $25,000 bond. He is being charged with battery by strangulation, grand theft (over $750 but less than $5,000), battery – touch or strike, and unarmed robbery by sudden snatching.
A court date for Houston has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.