Longoria found guilty on assault

GONZALES — Phillip Longoria, the man charged in connection with the choking of a woman three years ago, was found guilty of the charges during court proceedings before District Judge William Old on Thursday, July 15.

First Assistant Attorney Keri Miller, who handled the prosecution, reported that Longoria was found guilty on charges of assault family violence impeding normal breathing or circulation of blood by “applying pressure to the neck or throat of a member of the defendant’s family or household.”

During the trial, evidence indicated that on May 7, 2014, Longoria strangled the victim by lifting her off the ground in a chokehold, restricting her breathing in the process. Longoria also threatened another member of his family with physical harm after she witnessed him strangling the victim.

Miller’s report said Longoria continued to assault the victim by pulling her hair, striking her, pushing her, throwing her to the ground and holding her down.

When deputies from the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene, Longoria became hostile and violently resisted arrest, refusing to be handcuffed. It took several deputies to secure the defendant in the back of a patrol vehicle, Miller noted.

Following the jury’s guilty verdict, the punishment phase of the trial began, during which the State presented evidence that Longoria had violated an emergency protective order on several occasions involving the victim. In July 2014, Longoria resisted and fought with a DPS trooper who was trying to arrest him.

“When a concerned citizen drove by and saw the DPS trooper on the ground fighting with [Longoria], he stopped to help the trooper place the defendant in handcuffs,” Miller said. “Other officers arrived to the scene and the defendant continued to fight with those officers as well. With the help of three officers, the defendant was placed in the back of a patrol car.”

Defense Attorney Ruben James Reyes then called several character witnesses to testify on the defendant’s behalf. After hearing all of the evidence the jury elected to suspend the 10-year prison sentence they assessed and recommended that the defendant be placed on community supervision. The jury also assessed a $10,000 fine.

The case is formally set for sentencing on July 31, where Judge Old will determine the length of community supervision and conditions of community supervision Longoria will be required to follow.