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Man convicted in ex-wife's 2001 death arrested 15th time in Osceola County

A felon who's been arrested 14 times since 1992 is back behind bars for a 15th time and once again charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Osceola County deputies said Samuel Fertic set his own home on fire during his arrest last June.

He was accused of sexually assaulting a woman and attacking her with a machete.

The state attorney's office ultimately dropped the cases, citing not enough evidence to prove the assault beyond a reasonable doubt.

The sheriff's department said last year that it was concerned about his release.

His latest arrest affidavit cites a long history of domestic battery and being aggressive toward law enforcement.

Deputies said he is violent toward women and they hope he does not get out anytime soon.

Deputies said when they went to arrest Fertic, he tried to run until he was bitten by a K-9.

The arrest stems from a domestic violence incident that was reported by a Florida Hospital nurse.

Photos: The years of arrests of Samuel Fertic

The victim, who has been dating Fertic since April, went to the hospital two days after she said Fertic pinned her on the ground and her back pain would not go away.

Doctors found an acute compression fracture of the vertebrae.

Deputies documented multiple bruising on her arms, wrists, chest and face.

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When investigators spoke to the woman after her discharge, she told them about previous domestic violence incidents, including one where she said he put a gun to her head.

Since then, she said she tried to avoid him, but on Monday, she said he pinned her down and took her phone.

She told investigators she remained in the house out of fear that he would hurt or kill her if he found out she called the police.

A Texas jury convicted Fertic of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for the death of his ex-wife in 2001.

The victim had documented domestic violence to authorities in Osceola County before her death in El Paso.

Fertic served 10 years for her death, then moved back to Florida.