Charles Cornelius Cotton Jr.

WARSAW — A man accused of battering and strangling a female roommate was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court 3 Wednesday, Aug. 14, 

Charles Cornelius Cotton, Jr., 31, with addresses on file as both Warsaw and Syracuse, pleaded guilty to battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, a level 6 felony.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Jan. 24, a Warsaw Police officer was dispatched to a residence regarding a battery complaint. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Cotton, who admitted there was an argument between him and his two roommates. The officer observed a cut on the back of Cotton’s head. Cotton told the officer he was struck in the back of the head during the argument.

According to court paperwork, a woman at the scene said a verbal argument took place between Cotton and a female roommate. During the argument, Cotton allegedly struck the roommate in the face, causing her to bleed. Cotton also allegedly used his hands to apply pressure to the roommate’s neck. 

The woman at the scene said she picked up a glass dish and struck Cotton in the back of the head in order to help the roommate. The roommate was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for her injuries. It was later determined that the roommate suffered a fractured nose from the physical altercation.

Cotton admitted to police that there was a physical altercation between him and the roommate.

Judge Joe Sutton sentenced Cotton to two years in the Kosciusko County Jail. Sutton ordered one year of the sentence to be suspended and served on formal probation.

Sutton said he had no objection to Cotton serving the remaining portion of the sentence through the Community Corrections program, which Cotton has apparently been accepted into. 

Cotton is participating in anger management classes at the Bowen Center, according to his attorney.

“Work the program, continue to make changes, learn some skills,” Sutton encouraged Cotton. “Count to 10 and walk away if you get in that type of situation again.”

Cotton was ordered to maintain full-time employment, continue participating in the Bowen Center program, pay a $213 fee and to have no contact with the victim.

“I want you to do well and encourage you to stay on course,” Sutton said. “We’re all human. We all make mistakes.”