GROVELAND, Fla. – Groveland City Council candidate James O’Neil is facing criminal charges and a civil lawsuit after allegedly attacking a man he thought was speeding through a neighborhood.
According to a Groveland police report, O’Neil spotted Michael Trentadue driving at what he believed was a high rate of speed and decided to follow him. A confrontation followed, during which O’Neil told officers he “pushed” Trentadue and accidentally headbutted him.
Police described O’Neil’s claim of an accidental headbutt as “unlikely,” citing the height difference between the two men.
O’Neil, a 69-year-old retired Navy veteran, had recently won just over 50 percent of the votes in the primary election for Groveland City Council. He now faces charges of aggravated battery and false imprisonment.
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News 6 spoke with Attorney Anthony Sabatini, representing Trentadue in the civil case against O’Neil.
“This lawsuit is identical to the criminal complaint. He was battered. The guy acted violently and negligently and injured him, causing probably $100,000 worth of medical damage,” he explained. “He’s going to be under the care of doctors for many more weeks, and he’s probably going to be required to get some kind of cosmetic surgery because his face got disfigured.”
O’Neil’s attorney requested bond on Thursday, noting his client’s ties to the community and lack of a criminal history.
“Mr. O’Neill is a candidate for Groveland City Council, which I think speaks to substantial ties to the community. I understand he was a veteran. I don’t believe he has any criminal history,” the attorney said. “We would ask for a $10,000 bond to be served on the aggravated battery and 5000 on the false imprisonment date.”
The judge agreed to set bond but imposed a no-contact order between O’Neil and Trentadue, who live in the same subdivision.
“I’m not going to prohibit you from going to the clubhouse in the neighborhood or any of those other things where you might potentially run into that person, because I think that’s awfully difficult to police and to make arrangements for that to happen. So, I’m not going to do that. But if you do happen to see him out in public, say the grocery store or somewhere like that, go in the other direction, it’s in your best interest to do that as well,” Lake County Judge Emily Curington told O’Neil.
O’Neil is scheduled to return to court next month.