Prosecutors said this Meridian man tried to strangle a woman. Here’s what judge decided
A man who prosecutors said tried to strangle a woman has been sent to prison by a judge who called his crime “shocking.”
Blake Scott Emerson, 22, of Meridian, was arrested on Feb. 9 after entering a woman’s home uninvited and attempting to strangle her to the point where she lost consciousness, prosecutors said.
He was charged with felony counts of attempted strangulation and battery and domestic violence with traumatic injury, as well as a misdemeanor count of malicious property damage. Emerson pleaded guilty to the battery charge on June 17.
Ada County District Judge James Cawthon sentenced Emerson to at least three years in a prison before he is eligible for parole with a maximum potential sentence of 10 years, according to a news release from the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office.
Police went to a home in the 4000 block of North White Cap Lane in Meridian, where the woman told police what happened. Emerson fled the home before he was arrested, according to previous Statesman reporting.
At the time of his arrest, Emerson was on probation after being convicted on felony counts of grand theft and delivery of a controlled substance.
At Wednesday’s sentencing, Catthon also ordered Emerson have no contact with the victim for the length of the sentence
“This offense is rather shocking to the court,” Ada County District Judge James Cawthon said during Wednesday’s hearing, according to the prosecutor’s office. “The degree of violence is extremely dangerous and potentially fatal.”
After the sentencing, Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts thanked the Meridian Police Department.
“Their hard work helped my office ensure justice was served and helps make the community safer,” she said in in a statement Thursday.
Need help?
The Women’s and Children’s Alliance in Boise is available at 208-343-7025 for victims of domestic violence or online at wcaboise.org.
The Faces of Hope Victim Center is available for victims in need of emergency services at 417 S. 6th St. in Boise. Victims should call 911 in emergencies or call 208-577-4400 on weekdays during business hours. Faces of Hope provides free medical care and forensic examinations for victims, as well as assistance with filing police reports and mental health care after an assault.
Anyone in need of help or believes they may be in a violent relationship is encouraged to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 10:35 AM.
