A staff member at the Marion County Juvenile Correctional Facility is in jail tonight and charged with aggravated child abuse after using what police describe as unnecessary force on one of the inmates.

On Monday, 40 year-old Ronald Wallace Jr. of Ocala was involved in a physical altercation with two juvenile inmates and another staff member. Wallace is accused of placing a choke-hold on one of the juveniles, causing him to loose consciousness and fall to the ground. The fall caused serious injury to the juvenile's head.

The county Sheriff's office was called to the scene and interviewed several juveniles and staff members about the incident, including Wallace. Wallace's story was not consistent with the statements that other staff and inmates gave to police. As a result, Wallace was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse.