Woman Charged With Battering Grandmother

A Sebring woman remained in jail Wednesday on a $15,000 bond after being arrested Monday for allegedly battering her grandmother.

Monica Lynn Sheppard, 25, was charged with battery on a person 65 years of age or older and battery that causes bodily harm, a misdemeanor.

The victim said Sheppard left her two children with her on March 19 to go to Sebring International Raceway. She did not hear from the mother until Monday, when the suspect reportedly came back to the house, smelling of alcohol and demanded her children back, according to the arrest report.

The victim told Sheppard she could not take the kids because of her "current state," the report stated. The two started arguing and the suspect reportedly pushed her grandmother in the chest, causing her to fall. The two then started struggling on the ground until a witness inside the house came and pulled Sheppard off the victim.

The witness told police he heard Sheppard "yelling and screaming" at the victim and saw the suspect push her grandmother. When he went to break up the struggle, Sheppard scratched him on his face, the report stated.

When police talked to Sheppard, she said the victim "grabbed her by the shirt and punched her in the face without saying anything." Authorities reportedly also smelled alcohol on the suspect.

Another witness who came to the home said she saw the grandmother hit Sheppard in the face before leaving. There were no signs on the suspect's face that she had been struck, the report stated.

Sebring Police Officer Sean Bueford made the arrest.