A British man who was accused of trying to drown his daughter-in-law at a Florida swimming pool has been released, after agreeing to a plea deal.
Mark Raymond Gibbon, of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, was arrested in August after an incident where he was alleged to have repeatedly held the 33-year-old underwater after they had argued about his grandchildren.
The 62-year-old was arrested and taken to a Florida jail, where he was charged with attempted second-degree murder and two counts of battery.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Department said at the time: “Gibbon is accused of pushing and holding the victim’s head underwater multiple times, preventing her from breathing.
“The victim’s nine-year-old daughter jumped into the pool in an attempt to stop Gibbon from drowning her mother.”
However, according to documents from Polk County Court, seen by Sky News, the charges against him were revised in September.
A booking sheet from the sheriff’s office, dated 5 September, said Gibbon was charged with two counts of battery and one count of battery by strangulation.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
In Florida, battery is a misdemeanour offence, punishable by jail sentences of up to one year and fines up to $1,000 (£761).
Meanwhile, battery by strangulation is a second-degree felony, with sentences ranging from imprisonment up to 15 years, as well as a potential fine of up to $10,000 (£7,610).
Other documents – both bond receipts paid to the sheriff’s office – show Gibbon paid $25,000 (£19,026) and $1,000 to secure his temporary release during proceedings on 3 September.
A memo from the court, dated 7 November, shows that a deal was agreed with Gibbon for sentencing on two counts of battery – removing the strangulation charge.
That document said the court directed that his “passport (is) to be released to defendant”.
A felony plea from from the same day showed that Gibbon agreed and signed to plead guilty to the two charges “pursuant to a plea agreement” of time served and to pay costs totalling $1,308.68 (£996).
Read more from Sky News:
OBR apologises after early release of budget
Tourist tax to be introduced across England
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Sheriff Grady Judd said in August that the family were staying at a rental home in the Solterra Resort of Davenport, Florida, when the incident occurred.
Sky News has contacted the State Attorney’s Office for the 10th Judicial Circuit, the prosecuting office in Polk County, Florida, for additional comment.
