A married couple in Clermont was arrested for battery after allegedly attacking each other the night of their Easter dinner.
A deputy responded to a battery complaint involving 49-year-old Matthew Donald Chouinard and his wife, 45-year-old Vivian Emmenuelle Chouinard, at 10:30 p.m. Easter Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The couple had been separated last year and had reconciled.
Matthew explained that he and Vivian attended Easter dinner at his mother’s house earlier that day with their two children, ages 16 and 14. His 16-year-old daughter did not like the relationship he had with his mother, and she wanted a better relationship with her grandmother. She had also been trying to break up his marriage since last year, the report said.
After returning home from his mother’s house, there was an argument between him and his daughter about discipline. He took her phone away because she did not want to help clean the back patio, which he had pressure washed that morning, the report said.
Matthew was later lying in bed watching television when Vivian came into the room and attacked him. She scratched and pushed him while he was still in bed. He stated the attack was unprovoked and happened simply due to him watching television, the report said.
He then got up and left the residence to call law enforcement to avoid the situation escalating. He did not hit Vivian back because he is a marine and feared going to jail, the report said.
Matthew sustained scratches on his left forearm and bite marks on his body. One was old, but other marks were fresh. He also removed his shirt, revealing more fresh scratches on his chest, the report said.
A short time later, the deputy asked Matthew if anything physical happened. He added that he and Vivian threw pillows at each other during the altercation, and he pushed her. He had been drinking, as well, but claimed the alcohol was not the cause of the incident, the report said.
The deputy proceeded to speak with Vivian, who confirmed the family had returned home from Easter dinner. Matthew and his daughter fought, after which he upset her by taking her phone away. The children went to bed around 10 p.m., and Vivian went into the couple’s bedroom to find Matthew lying in bed, the report said.
Matthew told her not to come into the room and that he did not want her there. She replied that she wanted to sleep in the bed, and they should talk in the morning when they were not upset or under the influence. He asked her to leave again right before pushing her to get her out of the bed and bedroom. She told him not to call the police because they could talk in the morning, the report said.
Vivian sustained no scratches, bruising or other injuries during this incident. She advised that when Matthew was pushing her out of bed, her nails may have scratched his hand and arm as she tried to stop him. She also admitted they threw pillows at eachother, but she did not give any details about how that happened, the report said.
Due to the conflicting statements, both Matthew and Vivian were arrested on charges of simple battery (domestic). They were booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting their respective $1,000 bonds.