Man on probation arrested for biting 4-year-old child in the face as punishment

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Marcus Terelle Girtman, 38, was arrested on October 23 and charged with two counts of child abuse for allegedly biting a four-year-old child in the face and pinching him as punishment.

According to a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) report, the biting incident happened in July 2024 when the child started to run into the street; Girtman allegedly picked up the child and bit him on the face as a form of punishment. A witness took a photo of the injury three days later, and a GPD investigator reported that the photo showed a visible bite mark on the child’s face.

The witness also reported that Girtman sometimes pinched the child, leaving bruises, as another form of punishment. The investigator reported that the witness also provided photos of these injuries, showing several bruises along the child’s back.

Girtman’s full criminal history is unavailable, but he served 18 years in state prison for an armed burglary case out of Leon County, was released in March 2023, and is still on probation in that case. He was arrested in December 2023 for a September 2023 incident in which he battered a co-worker; he entered a plea of nolo contendere in that case and was sentenced to a year of probation, which he successfully completed in April 2025.

Girtman posted $100,000 bail and was released shortly after his arrest.

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.