James Donathan

WARSAW — James K. Donathan, 30, 321 S. Union St., Warsaw, was sentenced today, March 20, in Kosciusko Circuit Court for domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor. Per the plea agreement, charges for battery resulting in serious injury and strangulation were dropped.

On Friday, Oct. 28, an officer with the Warsaw Police Department responded to a domestic battery complaint at Donathan’s residence.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, when the officer arrived he spoke to a female who stated she and Donathan had been arguing when he became angry and placed his hands around her neck, squeezing until she couldn’t breathe. The officer observed red fingerprints consistent with her claims.

The female further advised that Donathan had put her in a chokehold and punched her in the eye, stating that during this altercation she lost consciousness.

The affidavit states the officer spoke with an upstairs neighbor who advised he could hear the female yelling “get off of me,” and advised this was not the first time officers had been called due to Donathan’s violence.

When the officer spoke with Donathan, he advised the female had put her thumb in his mouth and “next thing he knew her nose was bleeding.”

Donathan’s attorney Jay Rigdon informed the court that Donathan had apologized for his actions. Rigdon asked the court to allow Donathan to serve his sentence on work release so he’d have the opportunity to “maintain regular work.”

Judge Michael Reed accepted the agreement, sentencing Donathan to one year at Kosciusko County Jail with the allowance to serve the time on work release if Donathan is accepted into the program.

Furthermore, Judge Reed placed a no contact order with the victim and revoked Donathan’s right to own firearms.