Hawthorne Man Charged With Aggravated Assault and Domestic Battery

Stephen Edgar Cassels, 27, was arrested on Sunday and charged with domestic battery by strangulation and aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony. 

The arrest report states Cassels was arguing with the victim over their child gaining access to his anger management medication. Cassels reportedly beat, choked and threatened to kill the victim because she dropped a coffee cup during the argument.

Cassels alleged the victim threw the coffee cup but his sworn statement was reportedly vague, while the victim completed a sworn statement that was reportedly detailed. 

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) Deputy Christopher Dasher reported that Cassels’ “statements of taking actions to ‘hold down’ the victim were not consistent with attempting to prevent injury, but rather to cause it.” 

Earlier this year, Cassels was charged with resisting an officer during a domestic battery investigation. 

Cassels has no bond pending a motion of pretrial detention by the State Attorney's Office.