A Hillsboro man is facing a charge of assault following an alleged incident Tuesday night.

An affidavit filed with Hillsboro Municipal Court states that the alleged victim reported shortly before midnight that “he had just been assaulted.”

When a deputy with the Highland County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the SR 247 residence, he reportedly spoke with the alleged victim and witnesses.

They told the deputy that when the alleged victim arrived at the residence, he was allegedly attacked by a man identified as Ernest D. Jones, 51, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit adds that Jones is a neighbor of the SR 247 house and that he “struck (the alleged victim) multiple times in the face before running back to his residence.”

The deputy reported that the alleged victim was holding a towel against his face. When he removed it, the deputy reportedly “observed a laceration to the bridge of (the alleged victim’s) nose accompanied by blood on (his) hands,” the affidavit states.

The deputy also reports that he then noticed Jones was seated outside of his residence.

When the deputy spoke with him, Jones reportedly said that the alleged victim “had been taunting him to fight from the minute he arrived at (the SR 247) residence,” the affidavit states. Jones also said the alleged victim was calling him names, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit adds that Jones asked the deputy: “‘What he was supposed to do? … Just sit there and take it?’”

He also reportedly said that his name was also on the deed of the involved residence and that he “had every right to enter onto the property,” the affidavit states. Jones allegedly added that “he was merely defending himself.”

He was charged with first-degree misdemeanor assault.

Jones appeared on that charge in the municipal court on Wednesday. A pretrial is set for July 31. His bond is set at $1,000. If Jones posts that bond, he will be under a curfew. He is also ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim or reportedly involved parties.

In other cases, Joshua A. Barger, 22, Hillsboro, appeared on a bench warrant and saw a past furlough revoked.

Records show that Barger pled no contest and was found guilty of attempting to purchase an illegal amount of pseudoephedrine, a second-degree misdemeanor, in January.

All but 10 days of a 90-day jail sentence were suspended. He was fined $250 and placed on reporting probation.

Barger could be furloughed from jail if he passes a drug screen for everything except marijuana, records add. He was ordered to obtain counseling at FRS and to observe a curfew until that counseling is complete. Barger was also ordered to stay away from Walmart.

The Times-Gazette previously reported that Barger was found guilty of a probation violation in March. At that time, he appeared on a bench warrant, as well as new charges for driving on a suspension and a tag/sticker violation.

Barger pled guilty to both charges. He was fined $30, and a $500 fine was suspended. At that time, he was sentenced to 40 days in jail on his probation violation. He was later furloughed from jail in early April, records add.

In May, another warrant was issued for Barger’s arrest after he failed to appear for a review hearing, according to records.

He appeared on that warrant Wednesday. Barger’s previous furlough was revoked and he began serving a 32-day jail sentence when he was arrested Tuesday.

Barger was also found guilty of a probation violation. An additional 45 days in jail are scheduled to be reviewed in October, records show.

Reach Sarah Allen at 937-393-3456, ext. 1680, or on Twitter @SarahAllenHTG.