Last-minute plea deal for strangling woman
A Chicago man faces up to six years after strangling his ex-girlfriend. The incident crossed the state line into Indiana.
Octavio Perez-Beauchamp, 31, signed a plea deal filed Monday morning for criminal confinement, a Level 5 felony, before his scheduled trial. Jurors were dismissed.
His sentencing hearing is April 7.
Around 4:02 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2022, Hammond Police responded to a report of a “male battering a female” near 136th Street and Sheffield Avenue, according to the probable cause affidavit.
The woman, then 43, told police that she arrived at her home in Chicago when she saw her ex-boyfriend driving in front of her house. She drove past the house in an attempt to avoid him, but he spotted her and started chasing her in his vehicle, the affidavit states. The woman told police that she drove east into Indiana and had to slam on her brakes to avoid a crash with him near Sheffield Avenue and the state line, court records state. When she stopped, he forced his way into her vehicle.
Perez-Beauchamp grabbed the woman by the neck so hard that she was unable to breathe and began to pass out. She was able to grab her phone as he choked her and tried to call 911 but Perez-Beauchamp took her phone and threw it on the ground, court records state.
Logansport man charged with rape
A Logansport man has been charged after allegedly holding a knife to a woman’s throat and sexually assaulting her.
James Robison, 29, is charged with two counts of Level 1 felony rape, one count each of criminal confinement, strangulation, intimidation, domestic battery and one misdemeanor.
He is in custody, held on a $12,000 cash bond.
Merrillville Police responded at 8 a.m. Feb. 27. The victim said Robison had been staying with her for a few days and she planned to break up with him because their relationship was too “toxic.” He asked to come back to get some unspecified stuff, which she said drew her suspicions.
While back in the home, he grabbed her pocket knife and assaulted her. Her mom and baby were sleeping upstairs, documents show. Robison was arrested by 3:15 p.m. that day.
He denied assaulting the woman, saying she was trying to “mess with him,” according to the affidavit.
Post-Tribune archives contributed.
mcolias@post-trib.com
