A Leon County man has been sentenced to five years in state prison after being found guilty of domestic battery by strangulation and related charges after a two-day jury trial in Tallahassee.
Antonio L. Mcgriff was convicted on charges stemming from an attack that occurred Oct. 29, 2024, on the north side of Tallahassee.
Here’s what happened, according to a Sept. 17 news release: Mcgriff assaulted the victim at a friend’s residence, grabbing her by the throat with enough force to impede her breathing and leaving visible injuries.
The attack continued as Mcgriff allegedly forced the victim into his vehicle, ordered her to drive him to an unspecified location, and repeatedly battered her – including biting her arm and threatening her life if she tried to escape.
During the ordeal, the victim attempted to call her mother for help, but Mcgriff took her phone. The situation escalated until the victim saw an opportunity to seek help at a gas station on Mahan Drive. She pulled in, yelled for assistance, and tried to retrieve her phone. Mcgriff then pushed her out of the vehicle and fled the scene with her phone.
The Leon County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, presenting evidence including surveillance footage, 911 call recordings, photos of the victim’s injuries, and a recording of Mcgriff’s interview with law enforcement.
The jury found Mcgriff guilty of domestic battery by strangulation and the lesser charges of assault and theft. He was also found guilty of felony battery, but that conviction was set aside due to double jeopardy concerns.
Because of his prior criminal history, Mcgriff was designated a Prison Releasee Reoffender, resulting in a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in the Department of Corrections, prosecutors said.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Bradley Fehrenbach, with Assistant Public Defender Lakiera Bailey representing Mcgriff. Circuit Judge Tiffany Baker-Carper presided over the trial.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee jury convicts man in violent domestic battery case
Reporting by Staff report / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
