Man on probation arrested for hitting woman in the head with a machete and holding her prisoner

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lance Edward Martin, 34, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment after allegedly hitting a woman in the head with a machete and tying her up while he fell asleep.

The woman, who was in a relationship with Martin, told an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy that Martin kicked in her back door with a machete in his hand, argued with her, and then hit her on the head with the machete after saying he would kill her. She said he bit her arm and tied her up with a white strap and phone charger and also took her phone and broke it so she could not call for help. She said that Martin fell asleep on the couch, and she escaped to a neighbor’s house to call for help.

The deputy reported that the woman had a large gash on her head and wounds that indicated that she had been bitten.

Deputies surrounded the house and arrested Martin. Post Miranda, Martin reportedly denied all of the allegations and said he had the machete with him because of a different incident with another man, but when he arrived at the house, the victim had no injuries, and he went to sleep. He reportedly said he’d been having trouble with sleeping and narcotics use.

A search of the house reportedly produced a rusty machete next to a bloody couch, a white strap and phone cable, a broken phone, and damage to the door that was consistent with forced entry.

Martin has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, hindering communication with law enforcement, false imprisonment, and property damage.

Martin has eight felony convictions (three violent) and 16 misdemeanor convictions (four violent). He has served four state prison sentences, with his most recent release in November 2023, and he is on probation for possession of methamphetamine and listed as a state fugitive for violating parole. A sworn complaint for domestic battery that was filed in February 2024 was later dropped. Judge Thomas Jaworski ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from prosecutors to hold him without bail until trial.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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