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2 Men Sentenced for Choking Women Over Suggestive Texts
The Maricopa Police Department made two arrests over the weekend involving domestic violence incidents linked to jealousy and confrontation over text messages.
In the first case, which unfolded early Saturday morning, officers were dispatched to a residence on Lettere Circle around 2 a.m. Upon arrival, they found 28-year-old Luis Lieras in a heated argument with his partner in their garage. Lieras admitted that he had destroyed her phone after questioning her about deleted messages.
He claimed that his girlfriend initially injured him, prompting him to retaliate by slapping her. Following this, she locked herself in the couple’s bedroom, leading Lieras to break down the door. He noted that he observed her looking at a pistol in a nightstand and, acknowledging it was unloaded, picked it up to scare her.
However, his partner described a much more violent encounter. She accused Lieras of punching her, placing her in a headlock, and choking her during the altercation. Despite her attempts to find safety, he forcibly entered the locked bedroom and pointed a loaded gun at her. Following her account, police arrested Lieras on multiple charges, including aggravated assault. He could face over eight years in prison.
On Sunday, another incident came to light at a home on Sandhill Road. A 40-year-old man identified only as Shawn was accused of choking his wife during an argument triggered by messages on his phone. According to authorities, the woman sought refuge in the shower to deescalate the situation. Shawn followed her, and when she splashed him with water in an attempt to push him away, he responded by strangling her against the shower wall for several seconds.
The situation escalated when the couple’s young daughter called the police from the bathroom. Upon their arrival, Shawn admitted to physically assaulting his wife but denied the choking allegations. Police subsequently arrested him on four counts of assault and disorderly conduct, facing a potential two-year jail sentence.
Resources are available for individuals experiencing domestic violence in the Maricopa area, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233).