A Nashville man is being held on a steep $2 million bond after authorities say he sexually battered a woman in St. Augustine last November. Court records identify the defendant as 51-year-old John Ryan Tyrrell, who was arrested on March 5 after investigators reported finding video and other evidence tied to the incident. Prosecutors say the woman recalled little to nothing about the night and told investigators she woke up to find Tyrrell with her.
Judge Sets $2M Bond, Orders Strict Monitoring
During a March 23 hearing, Circuit Judge Christopher Ferebee set Tyrrell's bond at $2,000,000 and ordered that he remain on home confinement with electronic GPS monitoring if he is released. Prosecutors told the court the alleged assault occurred in November 2025 and that surveillance footage and witness accounts are part of the case file. Those details come from the arrest report and the court proceeding, according to First Coast News.
Arrest Report Details Uber Ride And Airbnb Cleanup
The arrest report states that Tyrrell and a friend met two women at local bars, then later shared an Uber with the victim and her companion. Investigators say surveillance video shows the victim and her friend appearing "highly intoxicated and/or drugged" and that footage from the ride captures the woman stumbling. According to the report, the victim told investigators she woke up to Tyrrell having sex with her after she had repeatedly objected. The document also says Tyrrell directed the Uber driver to an Airbnb off Sevilla Street and alleges that Tyrrell and his friend "thoroughly cleaned" the rental before leaving, according to First Coast News.
What Florida Law Says About Sexual Battery
Florida law defines sexual battery to include sexual penetration without consent and classifies cases involving incapacitated victims as aggravated offenses. Those aggravated charges are often prosecuted as first-degree felonies that can carry potential prison sentences stretching over decades. The statute outlining the crime of sexual battery is Florida Statutes §794.011, which can be found on Justia.
The case remains pending in St. Johns County, where prosecutors are preparing for additional court proceedings. Court records and the arrest report currently underpin the charges that are before the local state attorney's office.
