A Reading man who choked his ex-girlfriend until she blacked out has been sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty in Berks County Court.
David Rivera, 24, of the 400 block of Spruce Street was sentenced Wednesday to two to seven years in state prison as part of his plea deal with prosecutors.
Rivera strangled his ex-girlfriend in Reading, causing her to lose consciousness, prosecutors said.
By pleading guilty to strangulation — the most severe of the charges against him — Rivera avoided a jury trial before Judge Paul M. Yatron.
Court documents gave this account:
On July 31 about 2:30 p.m., city police were called to a home in the 800 block of North Fifth Street for a domestic disturbance.
Police found the victim crying, saying Rivera had just driven off.
She said the two had been planning to go to a party, but Rivera overslept and then got mad at her before they started arguing.
Rivera charged her and knocked her to the ground, punching her five or six times in her chest and body. He got behind her and put his arm around her neck, pulling it back until it was painful for the victim. She had trouble breathing and passed out.
Police noticed a large red area around her neck, indicating she’d been strangled.
Rivera received credit for 191 days of time served.
He had been in custody for this case as well as parole and probation violations for two prior convictions for misdemeanor domestic assault. Those violation hearings are pending.