The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A newly married couple in a hotel room in Florida was arrested after they allegedly got into an altercation leaving both parties injured and bloody.
43-year-old John Gerhard and Stefanie Ginas, 32, reside in North Carolina. The couple got married in Florida last Saturday.
After the pair went to their room at the Hilton Hotel in Naples, the new husband and wife reportedly got into a verbal disagreement.
The situation reportedly intensified, and it was reported that both Ginas and Gerhard sustained physical injuries when the fight allegedly turned physical.
The authorities were notified, and officers with the Naples Police Department went to the hotel to see what was going on.
When the police arrived, they reported that they saw Ginas crying in the Salon room while she was sitting with her mom. Gerhard had already departed from the scene.
Ginas was still wearing her wedding dress, and it was noted that it had been torn on one side and there were blood spots on the fabric.
According to the affidavit, Ginas’ chest and face were “covered in blood.” When an officer asked her how she was injured, Ginas reportedly said she fell and her face struck a wall during the disagreement with her new husband. There was blood on her nose, and her eye appeared to be swollen. She also had a cut on her lip.
Ginas’ father was also present, and Gerhard reportedly called his phone while the authorities were on site. The man told Ginas’ dad that his nose was broken because Ginas headbutted him.
When Gerhard came back to the hotel and spoke to the police, he reportedly said that it was an accident when his head hit his wife’s head. He also reportedly took the blame for causing her injuries.
Ginas also reportedly changed her narrative and said that she and Gerard were wrestling, and she needed to “defend herself.” She said that the incident was her fault, and Gerhard should not be held accountable.
Both parties told the EMTs at the scene that they did not wish to go to the hospital for treatment.
After the officers determined that they were both responsible for the situation, Ginas and Gerhard were each placed under arrest. They were both booked into the Collier County Jail for misdemeanor domestic battery, and each was incarcerated in lieu of a $1.000 bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.