A 52-year-old man was arrested on battery charges after he allegedly punched and choked an Ocala woman who was letting him stay at her home.
On Wednesday, November 13, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal responded to a residence located on NW 117th Court in Ocala in reference to a physical altercation. Upon arrival, the female victim “begged” the corporal to get a man, identified as Jason Paul Foreyt, out of her house, according to the arrest report.
The victim stated that Foreyt was her friend, and she had allowed him to stay at her home since September. She advised that Foreyt had been “acting very erratic” lately, and he was often “up at all hours through the night.”
According to the victim’s statement, the incident began when the victim came home and saw that Foreyt was sleeping on a coach. When Foreyt woke up, the victim advised that she told him that it was “no longer working” with him staying at the home, and she added that he needed to “find somewhere else to live.”
When the victim instructed Foreyt to move his belongings into a camper located in the yard, Foreyt allegedly became upset and punched the victim several times in her face. Moments later, the victim fell, and Foreyt allegedly “pinned her to the ground” by placing his forearm against her neck for approximately 30 seconds.
The victim told the corporal that Foreyt eventually let her go after saying something to the effect of, “If I didn’t love you, I’d kill you.” She stated that she quickly ran out of the back door and went to a neighbor’s house, where she waited for law enforcement, according to the report.
The corporal noted in the report that the victim’s voice was “very hoarse.” There was also redness on the right side of her face and left shoulder, a “slight amount of dried blood” on her face, and a scratch on her elbow.
Several deputies were also at the incident location, and they located Foreyt inside the victim’s home. After exiting the residence and being read his Miranda rights, Foreyt stated that the victim was “upset that he was sleeping,” and it had led to a “brief” altercation between them, according to the report.
During the post-Miranda interview, Foreyt allegedly gave “vague” responses. When investigators asked about the alleged incident with the victim that prompted the arrival of law enforcement, Foreyt refused to answer any further questions.
Foreyt was placed under arrest and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held on a $6,000 bond. He is being charged with battery by strangulation and battery – touch or strike.
On Tuesday, December 17, Foreyt is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m., according to jail records.