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Staff report
NEWBERRY, Fla. – Authorities took Daniel James Stone, 37, into custody yesterday on accusations of assaulting a 13-year-old boy by choking him until he lost consciousness. Earlier that day, Stone had been released from Alachua County Jail after being found guilty of driving without a valid license.
On the evening of April 6, around 7:10 p.m., deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office arrived at a Newberry residence. There, the young victim recounted that Stone, agitated over a prior disagreement, had put him in a choke hold that led to him fainting.
The deputy on the scene observed that the teenager had red marks on his face and neck, indicative of such an assault, along with red spots around his eyes, a common symptom of choking.
Several other children present in the home supported the victim’s account, and the deputy noted that the area where the victim described the incident was chaotic and showed signs of a struggle, consistent with an altercation on the floor.
Post Miranda, Stone reportedly said he was trying to restrain the victim because he had taken a phone from the victim and the victim was trying to take it back. He reportedly admitted to placing his arms around the victim’s neck, but he denied choking him.
Stone has been charged with aggravated child abuse by strangulation. He has two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and was released from the Alachua County Jail yesterday after entering a plea of nolo contendere to driving without a valid license; he was adjudicated guilty and fined $408.
Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.