A Florida man is facing criminal charges after he allegedly violated a protective order against his wife and attacked her on June 15. The defendant, age 50, apparently got into an argument with the woman over the no-contact order, which was related to a previous allegation of domestic abuse. The defendant is accused of domestic strangulation after apparently choking the woman until she became unconscious.
The alleged victim in this case was able to leave the premises, even though the man apparently choked her into unconsciousness twice during the encounter. The woman was also shoved into a mirror, causing her to suffer a painful laceration. The defendant is accused of aggravated battery, domestic battery by strangulation, kidnapping and violating his conditions of pretrial release.
The Fort Walton Beach couple had a no-contact order that was issued on April 23 after a previous domestic abuse incident. However, the couple decided to get married despite this legal barrier. Authorities confirm that while the woman was in the hospital, she was still receiving messages from the man. The defendant was found hiding on a neighbor’s patio, and he was taken into custody shortly thereafter.
This case demonstrates the complexity of many domestic violence charges. The couple obviously made up in the time between the issuance of the no-contact order and the most recent attack. In fact, they reconciled so effectively that they got married. This type of fact could have a direct bearing on a criminal defendant’s legal proceeding, as the woman disregarded the requirements of the first protective order. Every domestic violence case is different, so it is important to remember that defendants are not considered guilty just because they are arrested and charged.
Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, “Man charged in domestic violence incident” Trista Pruett, Jun. 17, 2014
Andrew Moses
Andrew has been practicing criminal law his entire career. After graduating from law school he began working as an Assistant State Attorney prosecuting cases in Orange and Osceola Counties. During his time as an Assistant State Attorney, Andrew handled all types of cases ranging from misdemeanors to such serious felonies as drug trafficking and armed robbery. His experience as a prosecutor helped him gain perspective of the criminal justice system and how the government established its cases.
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