Man allegedly admits he “casually choked” and stepped on woman’s neck
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IDAHO FALLS — A 56-year-old Idaho Falls man has been charged after allegedly admitting he “casually choked” and stepped on a woman’s neck.
David Lewis Smith has been charged with felony attempted strangulation.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by the Idaho Falls Police Department, on April 8, an officer was called to a residence for a report of a disturbance that involved a firearm and choking.
The victim in the incident told law enforcement she was strangled twice: once in the living room and once in a bedroom. The conflict began due to an argument after she said the residence was dirty.
According to the victim, Smith thought she was being disrespectful. She said he chest-bumped her and then shoved her. She shoved him back and Smith then started to choke her, documents said.
She reported she was strangled in the living room, and he was on top of her with his hands around her neck. A relative of the victim came and attempted to get him off of her by hitting him, documents said.
She reported Smith had to shave his beard because she had “ripped it out” while trying to get him off of her.
She told police the second time she was strangled was when she tried to get a firearm from a relative’s room. Smith came in and grabbed her shirt, then began to choke her on the bed, documents said. The victim said Smith attempted to take away her phone.
Smith admitted to officers he had choked the victim, documents said. He told police the victim was complaining about the dirtiness in the residence. There was an argument, and he said that she grabbed his beard and pulled his hair out, documents said.
Smith told police that the victim “went for my throat, so I causally choked her.” While saying this, Smith “chuckled” and reached out his right hand in a grabbing motion, court documents said.
He said they had shoved each other and that he got on top of her and put his fist on her throat, documents said. Smith said she went to get a gun and that when she pointed the gun at him, he took away the firearm and “stepped on her neck.”
“I asked David if he strangled (the victim) again after he stepped on her neck and he said he did,” police wrote.
Smith was then arrested and transported to the Bonneville County jail.
Smith was given a $50,000 bond and a no-contact order with the victim. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 19 at 1 p.m. at the Bonneville County courthouse.
The charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, a $50,000 fine and restitution.
Though Smith has been charged with this crime, it does not necessarily mean he committed it. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.