BUCKHANNNON – An Upshur County man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly strangling a woman and holding her up by her neck.
Justin T. Moots, 41, of Buckhannon was arrested for strangulation, a felony, and domestic battery, a misdemeanor.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Patrolman Jacob Garrison with the Buckhannon Police Department, on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at approximately 10:45 p.m., Garrison, Sgt. Tom Posey and Sgt. Darin Hissam were dispatched to a domestic call on Monongalia Street. Upon arriving on scene, the officers met the victim of the domestic call and her child. Both the victim and the child said Moots allegedly strangled the victim and picked her up by her neck.
The victim had visible red marks on her neck, according to the file.
Bail was set at $5,000 cash only by Upshur County Magistrate Mark Davis.
If convicted, the penalty for domestic battery is confinement in jail for not more than 12 months, a fine of up to $500 or both, while the penalty for strangulation is confinement in the state penitentiary for one to five years, a fine of up to $2,500 or both.
