Gainesville man arrested for punching juvenile victim

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Eddy Moreira Pagan, 31, was arrested early this morning after allegedly punching a juvenile victim who was sitting in a car with Moreira Pagan’s stepson.

At about 11:48 p.m. on November 23, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the parking lot outside the clubhouse at Reflections Apartments (205 SW 75th Street) after a call about a battery.

The 17-year-old victim said he had been sitting in his car with Moreira Pagan’s stepson when Moreira Pagan walked up, opened his car door without warning, and punched him in the face. He said he did not know Moreira Pagan personally and had never spoken with him, but he found out during the attack that Moreira Pagan is his friend’s stepfather. The deputy reported that the victim suffered a bruise to his eye.

Post Miranda, Moreira Pagan said he thought the victim was a bad influence on his stepson. He reportedly said he didn’t hit the victim and only yelled at him to stay away from his stepson.

The deputy charged Moreira Pagan with burglary with battery for allegedly entering the victim’s vehicle without authorization for the purpose of hitting the victim. Moreira Pagan was also charged with child abuse without great bodily harm.

Moreira Pagan has no local criminal history. Judge Robert Groeb ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office 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.