(Marion County, FL) On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, a jury found 63-year-old Leroy Garcin Harley guilty of Battery – Second Offense, and Witness Tampering. Harley’s charges come about from his 2023 arrest by Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies. After the verdict was delivered, the Honorable Judge Eddy sentenced Harley to 55 months in prison.
“Battery and tampering with a witness are serious crimes,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “In this case, the defendant intended to keep the victim from getting help as he carried out his attack.”
Back in January of 2023, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office’s Communication Center received a phone call, where no caller answered the dispatcher, but call takers could hear an altercation occurring in the background before the call disconnected.
Authorities were able to locate the residence where the call originated from. When deputies arrived at the home, they made contact with the victim who advised of a verbal and physical altercation between themselves and their roommate. The victim stated Harley attacked them inside the residence after a verbal argument over the victim’s dog getting off a leash.
During the altercation, Harley grabbed the victim and threw them into a dining room table before proceeding to punch the victim in the face. After the attack, the victim attempted to call 9-1-1, at which point Harley hit the phone out of the victim’s hand and kicked it across the dining room floor. The victim was able to escape and lock themselves inside the bathroom of the home.
Post Miranda, Harley did confirm that he and the victim had gotten into a verbal argument over the victim’s dog. However, he denied ever touching or striking the victim or taking away their cell phone. While inside the home, officials were able to observe the dining room table pushed back, multiple smashed items, and a shoe impression on the bathroom door – all evidence corroborating the victim’s account of events.
Harley was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail. Harley’s prior criminal history includes multiple robberies, armed burglary, and an aggravated assault.
This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Kyle Lambert.