Gainesville Man Tells on himself in Domestic Incident
Update | May 19, 2026: Updated to reflect the outcome of the case and to add additional information on prior criminal history.
On May 1, 2026, Joshua Alexander Vigil, 35, completed his one-year term of domestic battery probation. This comes after another domestic abuse incident from years ago.
On December 22, 2019, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers arrested Vigil and charged him with trespassing and criminal mischief, both misdemeanors.
Officer Owen Osborne reported the following:
"The Vic and the Def got into an argument over [the] care of a pet snake. The Vic advised the Def gave her the snake to take of but changed his mind and demanded the snake back. The Vic advised the Def came back to her apartment around [noon] irate she did not want to give back the snake.
The Vic told me the Def was yelling he would get her car towed or intentionally do something to car because she had the snake. The Vic advised she heard several loud bangs coming from the parking lot. The Vic stated she peaked out of her apartment to see the Def holding the windshield wiper mechanical arms which were torn from the vehicle. The Vic advised the Def tore off a trim piece at the hood of the car, cracked the driver's window, and bent her side view mirror. I observed the listed damage on the Vic's car.
The Vic advised the Def walked back to his apartment but returned to her apartment approximately 30 mins later. The Vic told me the Def was banging on the front door which caused several small dents in the door. The Vic explained the Def was pounding on the door so hard he cut his hand on the door. The Vic told me she was afraid the Def would smash the door in. The Vic told me she cracked the door to tell the Def she was calling the police and to leave. Vic stated the Def then forced his way into the apartment once she cracked the door. The Vic advised she struggled with the Def to close the door, but he put his foot in the door so she could not close the door. The Vic advised the Def was able to force his way past her and she bruised her left forearm on the door during the struggle with the Def.
The Vic advised she told the Def to get out of her apartment. The Vic explained the Def got the snake from her room then left the apartment.
The Vic showed me video of the Def yelling he would tow or damage her car, beating on the front door yelling, and inside her apartment.
I made contact with the Def at his apartment and he confirmed being in argument with the Vic. Post Miranda, the Def admitted to damaging the Vic's car and forcing his way into the apartment to get his snake. The Def stated he got so angry because of his history with the Vic...
There was approximately $300 in damage to the Vic's car...
A records check for the Def showed an active warrant [for driving without a valid license]..."
Vigil was not convicted of trespassing and granted a withheld adjudication for property damage. Taking a no contest plea deal, he was sentenced to six months of probation which he completed successfully.
On October 11, 2024, GPD officers arrested Vigil and charged him with misdemeanor domestic battery. Officer Craig Ferrell reported the following:
"The Def slapped the Vic in the face. The Vic sustained no obvious injuries. The Def spontaneously admitted to slapping the Vic in the face. The Vic positively identified the Def on scene..."
Vigil was convicted of domestic battery in a no contest plea deal.
