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NEWBERRY – A 48-year-old Newberry man was arrested Thursday after deputies say he entered a home without permission and attacked two women with a sharp metal object during a violent confrontation.

According to an arrest report from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Michael Leland Akins went to the home of a former girlfriend at about 2:13 p.m. on March 26, 2026, and entered through an unlocked door without permission.

Deputies said Akins began arguing with the woman and demanded to see her phone. He allegedly knocked the phone from her hand and began punching her repeatedly.

In the arrest report, the woman told deputies that Akins began “beating on her” with closed fists and would not stop. She said she repeatedly called for help during the attack. The responding deputy noted visible injuries, including red marks and bruising on her shoulders, elbows and forearms. The deputy also reported swelling and blood on her hands and said the woman was having difficulty moving her fingers.

A second woman in the home reportedly intervened, picking up a baseball bat and striking Akins in an attempt to stop the assault. Akins allegedly turned on the second woman and began striking her as well.

Investigators said Akins then went outside, retrieved a sharp metal object and used it to strike the second woman, causing injuries that led her to believe her arm may have been broken. The first woman also suffered a knee injury. Although she initially attributed the injury to a fall, the responding deputy noted that the wound appeared consistent with a strike from a sharp metal object.

Both women described the object as large and heavy enough to cause death or serious bodily harm, according to the report.

A third person in the home reportedly corroborated the accounts provided by the two victims.

Deputies said the first woman sustained injuries across her upper body, along with a deep laceration to her knee. Both victims received medical attention.

Akins reportedly left the residence in a red truck but was located a short time later. Deputies said his injuries indicated he had been involved in a physical altercation.

After being advised of his Miranda rights, Akins reportedly acknowledged being involved in the incident but claimed he acted in self-defense.

Akins has been charged with burglary with battery and two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Court records show he has five prior local misdemeanor convictions, all occurring before 2006.

Judge Luis Bustamante ordered Akins held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office seeking to detain him without bond until trial. If the motion is denied, bail will be addressed at that hearing.

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Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

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