Diego L. Chavez, 20, of Windom has been charged with felony domestic assault by strangulation in Cottonwood County District Court.
According to the criminal complaint, a Windom police officer was dispatched on June 6 on a report of a domestic assault. The victim stated she and Chavez got into an argument and it turned physical.
The victim stated Chavez threw her to the ground, held her down, put her hands above her head and put his hands around her neck to choke her.
When interviewed by police, Chavez stated he had tried to push the victim out of the room but she fought her way back in. When asked if he had choked the victim, Chavez stated it was more like a wrestling match, adding he had put his hand on the victim’s mouth and neck but did not squeeze.
Chavez stated he and the victim were in the middle of a breakup and that the victim began screaming and scratching him when she found another woman’s name in his phone. Chavez showed the officer scratch marks on his chest, which were fresh and still bleeding.
The officer went to speak to the victim again, who stated Chavez was upset when she tried to leave with their daughter. She stated Chavez had thrown their daughter in the air to the victim’s mother, who showed up after the assault occurred. The victim also showed a hole in the wall, adding Chavez rammed his head into the wall before he left.
If convicted, Chavez faces a maximum possible sentence of three years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.
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