A 42-year-old Ocala man was arrested this week on an aggravated battery charge, months after he allegedly struck his wife in the arm with a baseball bat.
On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a local residence in reference to a verbal altercation. Upon arrival, a witness informed the deputy that the female victim had been “physically abused” by her husband, Tommy Lynn Kinsler III, according to the arrest report.
The witness stated that there was a “long history of domestic violence” between the victim and Kinsler. These incidents were allegedly never reported to law enforcement due to the victim “being in fear of (Kinsler).”
The deputy noted in the report that the victim and Kinsler have lived together for the past 20 years, and they have multiple children.
While speaking with the deputy, the witness showed video footage that depicted a physical altercation between the victim and Kinsler, which occurred at around 12:17 a.m. on March 20, 2024. The camera was located in a bedroom, and the victim was seen laying in bed near one of her children, according to the report.
On the footage, Kinsler was observed walking to the side of the bed, near where the victim was located, while holding a baseball bat. The victim then screamed, “Don’t hit me with that bat.”
The report stated that the victim raised her right arm to defend herself moments before Kinsler allegedly swung the bat, striking her in the right arm. The victim was then heard on the footage asking Kinsler why he “hit (her) with a bat.”
Kinsler allegedly continued to yell at the victim while raising the bat, which prompted the victim to hold both of her arms up in a “defensive position.” Moments later, Kinsler swung the bat and struck the wooden headboard. In the report, the deputy mentioned that Kinsler “continue(d) to yell” at the victim as the video came to an end.
In addition to the video footage, the witness provided photographs of the victim’s arm. The report stated that the victim’s right arm was “swollen,” and it had “an oblong shaped bruise,” which was “consistent with where the victim was hit in the video.”
The deputy made contact with the victim, who recalled that she was laying in bed with one of her children at the time of the incident when Kinsler began “yelling at her and accusing her of talking to someone on the phone.” Kinsler then entered the bedroom, grabbed a bat, and allegedly struck her once in the arm before swinging a second time, striking the headboard, according to the report.
The deputy observed that the headboard had damage consistent with being struck by a bat.
On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Kinsler was placed under arrest and transported to Marion County Jail. He is currently being held without bond, and he is being charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.