A man who allegedly strangled and beat his ex-girlfriend when she wouldn't speak to him on a Yonkers street is accused of subsequently contacting her three times in violation of an order of protection, the Westchester District Attorney's Office said.
Micah Jackson, 21, of White Plains, pleaded not guilty Aug. 25, in Westchester County Court to an indictment that included felony assault and criminal contempt charges.
On June 1, near the intersection of Nepperhan and Yonkers avenues, Jackson allegedly hit his ex-girlfriend in the face and squeezed her neck after she would not speak with him, according to a news release from the DA's Office. She broke free and jumped into the back seat of her car but Jackson opened the door and allegedly hit her in the face again
and grabbed her keys.
The woman then got into a taxi and Jackson got in behind her. They traveled a short distance before she demanded the keys. Jackson then allegedly punched her in the face and strangled her into unconsciousness. He then drove off in her car after taking her cell phones, according to the news release.
Jackson was arrested four days later, and an order of protection was issued barring him from contact with the woman. Then on three occasions over the next three weeks, he allegedly contacted her in violation of the protective order.
"Domestic violence is a devastating crime that inflicts profound trauma on victims, and what begins behind closed doors can too often escalate into horrific and dangerous conduct," DA Susan Cacace said in a news release announcing the indictment. "Every victim deserves to know that they are not alone and have allies in law enforcement who will stand beside them.
Jackson was subsequently indicted on felony charges of second-degree strangulation, first-degree criminal contempt, and fourth-degree grand larceny and misdemeanor charges of third-degree assault, petty larceny, criminal obstruction of breathing and second-degree criminal contempt.
Westchester Judge Susan Capeci set bail at $10,000, which Jackson posted. He is due back in court on Sept. 16.
He faces up to seven years in prison on the strangulation charge and up to four years on the felony contempt charge.
The investigation was conducted by the domestic violence units of the Yonkers Police Department and the DA's Office as part of the New York Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence, or STRIVE, initiative.
Victims of domestic violence are urged to call 911 in case of emergency. Other contacts offered by the DA's Office are the Yonkers police DV unit at (914) 377-7322 or DVU @ypd.yonkersny.gov; the DA's multi-language tips line (914) 995-TIPS (8477); and the New York State 24-hour Domestic Violence Tipline, (800) 942-6906.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: White Plains man accused of violating protection order
