A Central Florida couple seen in a viral TikTok video shouting racial slurs at a door-to-door salesman are now facing assault charges, according to Orange County court records.
The confrontation happened in July, when salesman Antavis Johnson said he was going door-to-door for work. At one home, the residents became aggressive, chasing him off their property and down the street while using racist language and threatening violence. In the video, a man identified as Steven Edwin Wiley can be heard yelling at Johnson and making obscene gestures.
Johnson said the threats left him fearing for his safety. “I’m glad they didn’t get away with it,” he told WESH 2. “I never thought charges would come from this video… but something bigger is being done.”
Prosecutors from the Ninth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Monique Worrell, charged Wiley and Cheryl Ann Pyle with assault (evidencing prejudice), a hate-crime enhancement. Documents allege the pair intentionally threatened to commit violence, had the ability to carry it out, and targeted Johnson specifically because of his race.
Both defendants are scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 25.
Johnson said the ordeal still weighs heavily on him. “I can’t ever think the same after hearing them say they’d hang me,” he said. “I stayed calm because I didn’t want the situation to flip on me—I was working and representing my job.”
The day after Johnson posted the video, Wiley and Pyle contacted law enforcement claiming they were receiving threats as the footage spread online. Johnson said he never wanted the situation to escalate: “Anybody could have gotten hurt. I didn’t expect all of this to happen.”
Prior Incidents at the Same Home
Court and law enforcement records show the Abberton Court residence has been the subject of multiple calls in recent months:
-
September: Pyle was arrested after deputies found her 66-year-old stepmother with injuries, including cuts and extensive bruising. The victim reported Pyle kicked her and claimed that, on previous occasions, Pyle and Wiley had locked her in a room for two days by tying a rope to the door handle and attaching it to a garage door. The pair allegedly confiscated her phone and tablet to prevent her from calling for help.
-
Hazardous materials call: A suspicious package was investigated at the home, though it was ultimately found to be harmless.
Orange County deputies have been called to the residence at least four times within six months, according to records.
Leave a Comment