Newberry man arrested for choking 13-year-old until he passed out

Staff report

Updated on April 14 with pre-trial detention information.

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Daniel James Stone, 37, was arrested yesterday for allegedly choking a 13-year-old until he passed out; Stone was released from the Alachua County Jail earlier in the day after he was adjudicated guilty of driving without a valid license.

At about 7:10 p.m. on April 6, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a home in Newberry, where the 13-year-old victim said Stone, who was upset about a previous argument, had placed him in a choke hold until he lost consciousness.

The deputy reported that the teen had red marks on his face and neck that were consistent with being placed in a choke hold, and he had red dots around his eyes, which is a sign that a person has been choked.

Other children in the house reportedly corroborated the victim’s story, and the deputy reported that the area where the victim said he was choked was disheveled and in disarray, consistent with a fight on the floor.

Post Miranda, Stone reportedly said he was trying to restrain the victim because he had taken a phone from the victim and the victim was trying to take it back. He reportedly admitted to placing his arms around the victim’s neck, but he denied choking him.

Stone has been charged with aggravated child abuse by strangulation. He has two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and was released from the Alachua County Jail yesterday after entering a plea of nolo contendere to driving without a valid license; he was adjudicated guilty and fined $408.

Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial. On April 13, Judge Robert Groeb granted the motion and ordered Stone held 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.