A Rochester man faces allegations he strangled a woman after entering her Centralia home through a second-story window.
Christian Pantoja-Martinez, 24, is charged with two counts of first-degree burglary (domestic violence) and one count each of second-degree assault (domestic violence), interfering with domestic violence reporting and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence).
He faces up to life in prison for the burglary charges.
Pantoja-Martinez made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday. Judge Joely Yeager set bail at $250,000 cash or bond, in agreement with the state’s request, saying the allegations posed a significant threat to community safety.
A domestic violence no-contact order was also entered on behalf of the victim.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller indicated Pantoja-Martinez was frustrated with the charges and said he made it clear he’s been wrongfully accused.
According to Tiller, Pantoja-Martinez grew up in the area and has held the same job for over a year. Sarah McFadden has been assigned to represent him for future proceedings.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, Centralia police responded to the assault complaint at about 7:45 p.m. March 6.
The victim reportedly described having an “on again off again dating relationship” with Pantoja-Martinez and said she “had recently broken up with him.”
The victim reportedly informed police that Pantoja-Martinez had come over to her home despite her telling him not to. Pantoja-Martinez allegedly “climbed up the front porch banister, hung off the gutter, and then hoisted himself up on the second floor ledge,” the affidavit states.
He then allegedly opened the victim’s window. According to the affidavit, the victim took a video of Pantoja-Martinez “standing outside her window before he entered the apartment.”
The defendant refused to leave, according to the woman. Instead, he allegedly threw her cell phone across the room after she tried to call 911.
The defendant “then grabbed her by the hair, pinned her to the bed, and strangled her,” the affidavit alleges. “(The victim) stated she couldn't breathe and things started to go dark while he was strangling her.”
Pantoja-Martinez eventually left, the woman told police.
According to the woman, Pantoja-Martinez assaulted her a previous time on March 1 after entering through the same window. She described another alleged assault that occurred on March 3.
Officers noted injuries to the woman’s neck, arms, wrist and legs, according to the affidavit. A hospital nurse used a strangulation kit to evaluate the woman and documented “marks on her neck, pain when swallowing, spots behind her ear that appeared consistent with Petechiae and bruises throughout her body,” according to the affidavit.
Officers arrested Pantoja-Martinez at about 7:45 p.m. March 6, according to the Centralia Police Department.
He was scheduled for an arraignment on March 12.
