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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Leesburg man arrested after spat with female roommate turns physical

Francis Joseph Deery

A 71-year-old Leesburg man is accused of grabbing a woman by the throat after she started banging on the door with a broom handle when he locked her out of the home.

Francis Joseph Deery was charged with simple battery (third offense) after the incident, which happened shortly after 4 p.m. Friday at the residence on Ashley Avenue where Deery and the victim live.

The victim told a Lake County sheriff’s deputy she has been living at the address for several years. She said when she arrived home with groceries, the door was locked and Deery wouldn’t let her in, according to the sheriff’s office report.

The victim said she started hitting the door with a broom handle. She said Deery then opened the door and grabbed her by the throat, and then with his hands around her throat, pushed her across the screened porch and up against the screen before letting go. Asked if she lost the ability to breathe, the victim said she did not, the report said.

The victim did not have any visible injuries. She provided a sworn statement with written intent to prosecute, according to the report.

Deery told the deputy he was inside the home when the victim tried to enter. He said he locked the door due to an argument they had earlier in the day and he didn’t want her there. Deery said the victim started hitting the door and window in the door with the broom handle and he opened the door and grabbed her by the throat. He said he pushed her back and up against the screened wall, the report said.

Deery said he then let go of the victim and went back inside and called 911. He signed a sworn statement saying the victim was, “smashing the door window with a broom because I locked her out. I opened the door to stop this and was physically attacked.” Deery signed the statement with no intent to prosecute, according to the report.

Both Deery and the victim provided the same account of the incident with Deery grabbing the victim by the throat but not choking her. Both said they have never been in a romantic relationship, the report said.

Deery was determined to be the primary aggressor and placed under arrest. A criminal history report showed that Deery has two prior convictions for battery, which elevated the latest count to a felony. He was taken to the Lake County Jail, where he was released later Friday evening on $2,000 bond. Deery will appear in Lake County Court on March 1.

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