Tanning Bed Argument Leads to Alleged Attack of Elderly Woman

A Bartow County man jailed on an aggravated battery charge said his aunt provoked him into an attack after refusing to take him to the tanning salon.

Charles Wesley Guyton, 47, of Gum Springs Lane in Rydal, was arrested in connection with the Thursday incident at his home about 8:30 p.m., according to the Bartow County Sheriff's Office report, attached.

Police found drops of blood in his living room, some on mail scattered on the floor.

Guyton allegedly told cops he and his 76-year-old aunt had been in a verbal arguement because she refused to take him to the tanning bed. He said his aunt, also a Rydal resident, provoked the alleged attack when she said:

"Well if you keep laying in the tanning bed, before long your face is going to fall off."

Guyton is accused of striking the woman in the face, causing her mouth to bleed. He was arrested and charged with aggravated battery under the Family Violence Act and she was taken by ambulance to a Rome hospital for treatment.

About two hours later at Redmond Regional, the alleged victim told police Guyton had hit her in the face with the palm of his hand after the argument over his artificial tanning. Her lower jaw was broken in two places, and appeared to be "grossly out of place" and bruised, according to a doctor and a deputy.

"Guyton said he knew what he did was wrong, but [his aunt] should have known by saying what she said would provoke him," a deputy reported.

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