MAN BATTERS WOMAN KNOWN TO HIM

A VENICE MAN IS BEHIND BARS AFTER ALLEGEDLY HITTING A WOMAN KNOWN TO HIM.  SARASOTA COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY THEY WERE CALLED TO A HOME IN THE 200 BLOCK OF GLEN OAK ROAD ON MONDAY WHERE THE VICTIM TOLD THEM THAT SHE AND 42 YEAR OLD LEO DeSCOTEAU HAD BEEN ARGUING ABOUT FINANCES AND PAWNING A SET OF RINGS EARLIER IN THE DAY.  WHEN THE ARGUMENT RESUMED LATER IN THE DAY, THE VICTIM WENT TO SLEEP ON THE SOFA, WHICH REPORTEDLY MADE DeSCOTEAU EVEN ANGRIER, AND HE ALLEGEDLY SHOVED THE VICTIM AGAINST THE WALL.  THE VICTIM TOLD HIM SHE WAS CALLING THE POLICE, AND DeSCOTEAU REPORTEDLY TOLD HER IF SHE DID HE WOULD KILL HER.  THE VICTIM GRABBED HER CELL PHONE TO MAKE THE CALL WHEN DeSCOTEAU REPORTEDLY GRABBED THE PHONE AND SLAMMED IT AGAINST THE FLOOR, BREAKING IT.  THE VICTIM TRIED TO LEAVE BUT DeSCOTEAU PULLED HER BACK AND PINNED HER AGAINST THE KITCHEN CABINETS.  SHE EVENTUALLY WORKED HER WAY FREE AND SHE CALLED 911 FROM A NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE.  WHEN DEPUTIES QUESTIONED DeSCOTEAU, HE BLAMED IT ALL ON THE VICTIM.  HE WAS CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, FALSE IMPRISONMENT OF AN ADULT, AND BATTERY.  HE IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND IN THE SARASOTA COUNTY JAIL.