Man Charged in Christmas Day Assault and Strangulation

(KNSI) — A St. Cloud man has been charged with four felonies after allegedly strangling and assaulting a woman on Christmas Day.

According to the criminal complaint, a woman called police on December 25th, saying 55-year-old Jeffry Wayne Johnson had been abusing her for the past few days. She said the two of them got into an argument, and he strangled her and threatened to “send his family after her” and would kill her if she reported him.

The criminal complaint says Johnson has multiple domestic assault convictions, including seven separate convictions with this same woman.

Johnson has been charged with two counts of felony domestic assault, one count of domestic assault by strangulation, and one count of felony threats of violence. Prosecutors also filed a motion of intent to seek aggravating factors in this case, citing his pattern of criminal conduct, including prior domestic assault convictions and other crimes including forgery, DWI, and motor vehicle theft.

Bail has been set at $125,000. Johnson is due back in court on January 13th.

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