A Leesburg man who was arrested after he reportedly broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home and fought with a juvenile resident entered a plea of not guilty last week in Lake County Court.
Ernest Liam Gonzalez, 40, who was sentenced to 60 days in the Lake County Jail on drug charges earlier this month was arrested for the burglary and battery charges on June 9 when police responded to a 911 call that a burglary and battery had occurred at a residence on Lake Griffin Road.
When the police arrived they made contact with a woman who said her former boyfriend, Gonzalez, had entered her home that morning uninvited, possibly using a front door key he stole several months ago, according to the arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department. When he was told to leave and that she was going to call the police he took her cell phone and moved into the living room where he started shoving the woman’s son. When Gonzalez punched the boy the boy fought back and was able to eject Gonzalez. Police observed multiple minor injuries on the boy, who declined medical attention, according to the report.
Gonzalez has had 11 felony arrests since 2008 as well as numerous misdemeanor arrests in the same time period.
