ROCKLAND —  A Rockport man will serve two and a half years in prison after being convicted of choking a woman and threatening to stab her.

Bronson R. Simmons, 28, pleaded guilty Aug. 12 in Knox County Unified Court and was sentenced to nine years in prison with all but 30 months suspended for aggravated assault and criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon. The charges of domestic violence reckless conduct and obstructing the report of a crime were dismissed.

Simmons was arrested March 3 by Camden Police Detective Curt Andrick for choking a woman and threatening her with a knife after a verbal argument became physical. He was charged with aggravated assault, domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence reckless conduct and obstructing the report of a crime or injury.

Simmons made his initial court appearance March 4 in Knox County Unified Court and the judge set his bail at $25,000 cash. He had previous convictions for domestic violence assaults in 2010 and 2014.

According to the police affidavit, the victim went to the Camden Police station March 3 to report that her boyfriend had assaulted her the previous night. She told police that during an argument, Simmons grabbed her by the throat in the bedroom and choked her along with grabbing, pushing and threatening her. The victim said that Simmons took her cell phone during the fight so she was not able to call police, said the report.

The victim said that Simmons followed her into the kitchen, grabbed a knife from the counter and used his forearm to hold her against the wall while he held the knife in the other hand. Simmons told the victim he was going to kill her, and stab and slice her with the knife, according to the police report.

A neighbor heard the disturbance and called police, who responded to the residence. 

When the police questioned Simmons about the assault he told them the victim injured her throat when she fell down and struck her neck on a baby gate. After further questioning by police, Simmons changed his story and told them the victim had punched him in the face, the report said. He also denied threatening her with a knife.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com