Texas: Convicted of domestic assault in 2014, Christopher Maricle gets probation after another domestic assault which included strangling a puppy

TEXAS -- An Austin man accused of strangling a puppy during a fight with a woman in his house was sentenced Thursday.

Christopher Maricle, 25, was sentenced to two years of supervised probation and one year in Mower County Jail if he fails to follow the conditions set by the court, with credit for 96 days time served. He also received 80 hours of community work service.

He was charged in August 2015, with domestic assault, interfering with a 911 call and animal cruelty. Maricle pleaded guilty to domestic assault as part of a plea agreement, and the two other charges were dropped.

According to a court complaint, Maricle and a woman were arguing inside his home at the 400 block of 13th Avenue Northeast in Austin around 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11 when Maricle allegedly grabbed a 9-week-old pit bull, a pet, and went outside to strangle it on the lawn.

The woman later told police Maricle choked the dog with both hands around its neck before he threw it inside at a couch.

The woman tried to leave with the dog and call 911, but Maricle allegedly threw the phone across the lawn and wrestled her to the ground for the puppy. Maricle’s mother eventually drove by and took the puppy away during the fight.

Maricle later told police he and the woman argued over the dog and both people were pulling on the puppy. He also admitted to interrupting the 911 call, according to the complaint.

Maricle was previously convicted of domestic assault in January 2014.

In that case, the victim said a verbal argument happened in the garage and escalated when the suspect Christopher Maricle grabbed her wrist, pushed her down and wrapped a cord around her neck. The complaint added the victim was able to go into the house, but Maricle allegedly poured chocolate milk on her and around the house and broke several items, including a coffee table.

(Austin Daily Herald - Feb 28, 2016)