Grape Creek Man Sentenced to 18 years For Choking Girlfriend

A 36-year-old San Angelo man was sentenced to 18 years in prison Wednesday in Judge Tom Gossett’s 51st Judicial District Court after a jury found him guilty of choking his girlfriend.

The charge stemmed from a Sept. 2, 2013 domestic disturbance call in Grape Creek, during which Tom Green County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Corbell arrived to hear defendant Nathaniel Frazier threatening the victim, Sandra Salinas, who was yelling for help, a press release from the DA’s office states.

Frazier was arrested for assault dating violence with impeding the breath after an on-scene investigation. During the trial, Salinas told the jury that Frazier had crawled through a window in the living room and kicked down a locked bedroom door where she had barricaded herself on the night of the assault. He then began to strike and choke her with his hands, the release states.

Finally, Frazier took Salinas’ pepper spray and used it on her. According to the release, Salinas testified that Frazier stated he was going to kill her and only stopped the assault when officers arrived on scene. Salinas suffered multiple bruises and a broken nose during the assault.

After just over an hour of deliberation, the jury found Frazier guilty. Assault dating violence, choking is a third-degree felony punishable by 2-10 years imprisonment and an optional fine not to exceed $10k. Due to his two prior felony convictions, Frazier’s charge was enhanced to a second-degree felony, which is punishable by 2-20 years confinement and an optional fine not to exceed $10k. Frazier’s previous convictions came out of Michigan, where he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and possession of narcotics. The jury sentenced Frazier to 18 years confinement.