Gainesville Man Arrested for Assault

Stephen Michael Lehr, 52, was arrested on Friday night and charged with simple assault and burglary with assault or battery. 

Lehr approached the victim, a stranger, while she was waiting by her car. The victim told Lehr she was waiting for her sister so they could visit the grave of their mom.  

Lehr began harassing the victim in front of a child witness, saying she wasn’t “supposed to be there.” Lehr continued escalating the situation and said the victim “had to leave.” 

Lehr would reach into the victim's vehicle and grab a black item that the victim initially believed was a gun but was actually a phone. Lehr put the victim in fear of her life and her family’s life. 

After Lehr’s arrest, he claimed he didn’t approach the victim and was “taking a photo of [her] vehicle’s tag.”  

Lehr was released after posting a $7,500 bond.