Okla. man pleads guilty to strangling, threatening to kill wife if she didn't add him on Facebook
08/24/2022 2:50 pm PDT
TULSA, Okla. (TCD) -- A 31-year-old Eucha man reportedly pleaded guilty recently to federal charges alleging he sexually assaulted and strangled an "intimate partner."
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma announced Jesse Ray Matlock’s indictment in July, charging him with several criminal counts including aggravated sexual abuse by force in Indian Country, assault of a spouse by strangling and attempting to strangle in Indian Country, stalking, kidnapping in Indian Country, and others.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the sexual assault and strangulation reportedly occurred Feb. 24, and he also allegedly strangled her in May 2021. Matlock allegedly "carried a firearm during the crimes and threatened to harm and harmed the victim to prevent her from communicating with law enforcement officials."
Matlock is also accused of electronically stalking the victim between Dec. 1 and Dec. 4, 2021. He then allegedly kidnapped and strangled her from Dec. 13 to Dec. 14, 2021.
According the plea document shared by KSNF-TV, Matlock admitted to strangling his wife several times, and in December 2021, "threatened to send nude pictures of her to her friends and family, as well as post them to Facebook and pornography websites."
In the case of the February incident, he reportedly drove with his wife — who went by T.M. in the document — in the middle of the snowstorm and they "began to argue."
According to the document, Matlock "strangled her by grabbing her by the throat with my hands and squeezing, which impeded her ability to breathe."
He said he "threatened to kill her and others if she reported me to the police or refused to re-friend me on Facebook."
T.M. is reportedly a member of the Cherokee Nation.
KSNF reports Matlock pleaded guilty to three counts of assault of a spouse by strangulation or attempting to strangle in Indian Country, obstruction of justice by threatening physical force against a witness, and stalking.
He could reportedly face 10 years in federal prison.
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