Jeremy Summers

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was sentenced on charges of strangulation, a level 6 felony, and domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, a level 6 felony. Per the plea bargain, charges of rape and criminal confinement were dismissed.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Aug. 24, an officer with the Warsaw Police Department responded to a call regarding battery to a female. According to the officer, the victim appeared distraught and had a swollen bruise above her left eye and scratches on her neck.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the victim advised that her husband, Jeremy Lee Summers, 39, 720 West Center Street, Warsaw, had gotten angry with her during the previous evening, Aug. 23. The victim stated the Summers had continually battered her by striking and choking her on several occasions, to the point of passing-out.

At one point during the strangulation, Summers asked his wife, “How does it feel to draw your last breath?”

The victim further stated that Summers would not allow her to leave the bedroom throughout the whole night. At around 4:30 a.m., the victim was changing clothes when Summers forced her to submit to sexual intercourse. During the act he repeatedly grabbed her by the hair and jerked her head.

The victim was finally able to escape the home and seek the help of a neighbor. According to the neighbor, she heard the victim yelling “help me, help me.” The neighbor instructed the victim to walk towards her and the victim stumbled to her yard. The neighbor then drove the victim to a safe location to call the police department.

Summers then fled the scene and the Warsaw Police Department started an extensive search for him. An officer was able to contact Summers by telephone who stated he felt so bad about injuring his wife that he was going to kill himself.

During his sentencing on Thursday, Nov. 17, Summers was sentenced to two years on both counts, to be served concurrently at the Indiana State Correctional Facility. In addition, he will spend six months on probation. Summers will receive 85 days of credit for time already served and 85 days for good time credit.

Summers will have to pay a $50 domestic violence fee. He will also have a lifetime firearm restriction.

During Summers’ sentencing, he took the stand to plead his case. Summers apologized for his actions to his wife and stated that this incident was a one time deal.

“I love that woman more than anything in my heart,” said Summers.

Summers’ lawyer Matthew Buehler argued that while Summers has a “checkered criminal past,” after a release from a previous charge in 2012, Summers’ has not had any major offenses since then. Buehler stated that it was clear he had a substance abuse problem. Buehler mentioned it might be more helpful to Summers if he were to get help through programs with the probation department, rather than being incarcerated.

Summers’ wife, and victim in the incident, spoke on behalf of Summers. She admitted what he had done was wrong, however, she felt this was a relapse, and not indicative of his true nature.

“It was a relapse, it was a mistake,” his wife said, “I just love him. I want him home with us.”