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Background: News footage from the scene of the Sol Fest EDM music festival in May 2024 (WJHG). Inset: James Michael Anderson (Holmes County Sheriff’s Office).
A Florida man who bit off part of a deputy’s scalp while attending a music festival last spring pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and is headed to prison.
James Michael Anderson, 37, was one of many people arrested at Sol Fest, an EDM music and arts festival that was held in Ponce de Leon, Florida in early May 2024. Local CBS affiliate WJHG covered the chaotic scene at the time, including the arrest of Anderson, who was accused of biting an unnamed Holmes County Sheriff’s deputy on the head, tearing off part of his scalp and exposing his skull. Anderson was also accused of trying to grab the deputy’s firearm from his holster. According to Holmes County Chief Prosecutor Jacob Cook, Anderson complained afterward that “he had hair in his teeth.”
In a press release, Cook said the injury to the deputy — who has since recovered and returned to work — was “the most severe bite wound I have ever seen in my career as a prosecutor.” Cook stated that he was ready to go to trial and was prepared to call the injured deputy to testify before Anderson entered his plea. The deputy reportedly suffered “significant scarring” as a result of Anderson’s attack.
According to WJHG, 68 people were arrested at last year’s Sol Fest, mostly for drug possession of substances including marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms, and MDMA (also known as molly). State Attorney Larry Basford said in the press release that more than 10,000 people attended Sol Fest last year. WJHG reported that among the arrests was a Sol Fest staffer, and the mayhem led to new ordinances for outdoor gatherings and legal action against the event’s promoter.
Anderson was taken into custody on May 5, 2024, and charged with aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced by a judge to six years in prison followed by 10 years of felony probation.
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