A Yonkers man repeatedly contacted his girlfriend in violation of an order of protection issued after he'd been arrested on charges of strangling and assaulting the woman, the Westchester District Attorney’s Office said.
Otoniel Morel Tejeda, 37, pleaded not guilty in Westchester County Court on Friday, Aug. 21, to an indictment that included felony charges of second-degree strangulation and first-degree criminal contempt.
Early on Feb. 21, 2026, at their home in Yonkers, Morel Tejeda allegedly threatened his girlfriend and pushed her against a wall before breaking her cell phone when she tried to call police, according to a news release by the DA’s Office.
He is accused of then wrapping his shirt around her neck and squeezing until she lost consciousness.
When she came to, he allegedly punched her in the face, according to the news release. He then threatened her with a knife, sliced her nose and bit her face before putting his hands around her throat and squeezing.
The woman managed to pepper spray Morel Tejeda and get out to call police. Responding officers arrested Morel Tejeda at the home.
Morel Tejeda had been free on $1,000 bail set in Yonkers City Court following that arrest. According to court records, that bail was not addressed by a city court judge in April when Morel Tejeda was arrested related to a series of threatening text messages he sent the woman in the last week of March even though the order of protection barred him from contacting her. He was released without bail on that criminal contempt charge.
There was no indication in court records that Morel Tejeda had failed to appear at several subsequent court hearings, one of the factors judge's weigh in deciding appropriate bail.
Westchester Judge George Fufidio declined to hear a new bail application by the prosecution, the DA’s Office said. Nonetheless DA Susan Cacace said Friday she was "deeply disappointed" that Fufidio kept the bail amount the same, suggesting the woman faced further harm if Morel Tejeda remained free.
“The defendant allegedly strangled and terrorized his girlfriend, demonstrating a deeply disturbing pattern of violence, intimidation, and control," Cacace said in a statement. "Domestic violence is not a private matter, it is a serious crime, and no one should ever have to live in fear in their home or relationship.
A lawyer for Morel Tejeda could not be reached.
He is also charged with third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree menacing and second-degree aggravated harassment, all misdemeanors.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Yonkers man accused of strangling girlfriend pleads not guilty
