Man accused of stalking estranged wife

A Sebring man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bond Thursday after he was charged with stalking his estranged wife.

Charles Hoadley Damron, 36, of Sebring, was booked Tuesday on a charge of domestic violence related aggravated stalking - follow, harass or cyber-stalk after injunction for protection against domestic violence.

Judge Anthony L. Ritenour reportedly revoked Damron's bond on previous charges including violation of an order for protection against domestic violence, making a false report of a crime and use of 911 or e-911 for a false alarm or giving false information; for which Damron was out on $7,000 bail when the alleged stalking took place.

He is being held without bond on those charges until his next court appearance, according to sheriff's central records.

The arrest report stated that on Oct. 6, Damron "knowingly, willfully, maliciously and repeatedly followed" the victim (his estranged wife) in an area near her Sebring home.

She told sheriff's investigators that she was driving home from work and turned onto a neighboring road, where she reportedly saw Damron waiting in his vehicle.

As she drove past, he reportedly yelled out a disparaging statement. He then pulled out onto the roadway, the report stated.

It was then the victim followed him and called law enforcement. She reported that she followed because she was afraid deputies would not be able to find him.

She reported she has suffered emotional distress, was in fear he would harm her or their child and has lost sleep, worried he was following her.

When investigators located Damron he told them that he was putting out signs advertising his business.

The report indicated he is self-employed and was hanging signs for his business buying and selling houses. He did hang a sign near the victim's home but deputies report it was on a dead-end street with few houses and few people would see it.

He had other signs for his work in his vehicle. The report indicated he was previously self-employed with a lawn service business.

The victim had an active injunction order for protection against domestic violence issued on Aug. 20 and that was served on Damron on Aug. 27, the report stated.

On that date, reportedly in violation of a court order, Damron, with a friend, took pictures of the victim's car parked at her friend's home.

He also reportedly had a friend make a 911 emergency call from a Circle K pay phone at U.S. 27 and U.S. 98, that there was an infant baby left alone screaming at a Sebring house.

They reportedly have a child in common.

A second call was made the same day reporting a violent domestic disturbance at a Sebring home, possibly connected to the first call.

When deputies arrived, both calls were "in fact unfounded and had never occurred," the sheriff's probable cause affidavit stated.

Damron was arrested on Sept. 4, on those charges.

The second suspect in the case involving false reports has not been arrested and his name was omitted from the report, according to sheriff's central records.

Damron's next court date is Oct. 20, on the false reports and violation of injunction case and Nov. 2, on the aggravated stalking charge.