SUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - A Lake City man has been arrested, accused of breaking into a woman's home to sexually assault her at knifepoint.
The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office says they were called to a home in Branford around 2 a.m. Monday morning about a sexual battery.
When they arrived, they met with the female victim who said that 36-year-old Ernest Pearce broke into her home and tried to sexually assault her. Deputies say the victim was able to initially defend herself from the attack, but during the attack, Pearce began punching her in the face.
At one point, he also grabbed a large knife and threatened to kill the victim.
Eventually, SCSO says the victim was able to escape the home and call 911. By time authorities arrived, Pearce had ran away from the scene.
With the assistance of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Pearce was later found at his mother’s home and was arrested.
He is currently in the Suwannee County Jail and has been charged with burglary, kidnapping / false imprisonment, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (domestic violence), sexual battery, aggravated battery, petit theft, and obstructing justice.
