ROCKLAND —  A Warren man was sentenced to two years in prison for assaulting a woman and trying to strangle her in St. George on July 9.

Trevor Libby, 25, appeared in Knox County Unified Court August 24 and was sentenced to five years in prison with all but two years suspended for felony domestic violence assault. The charge was elevated to a felony because Libby had previous convictions of domestic violence assault and terrorizing in 2015.

Libby received concurrent lesser sentences for assault on an officer, assault, criminal mischief and operating a vehicle without a license. He will also pay a $300 fine for the assault charge. Libby will serve two years of probation after his release from prison.

Libby, was arrested by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office July 9. Judge Barbara Raimondi set Libby’s bail at $5,000 cash at his initial court appearance July 10.

According to the affidavit filed by Deputy Nathaniel Jack in Knox County Unified Court, he responded to a report from a witness on River Road in St. George that he saw a woman exit a house screaming and then a man dragging her back inside.

The witness also saw the woman leave the house again and walk along the road when a man, identified as Libby, got into a car and followed her.

Sgt. John Palmer located the woman at her mother’s house. The victim told Palmer that she had an argument with Libby and after he forced her back into the house, he pushed her down on the bed and allegedly strangled her, according to the affidavit.

The victim told police that she did not lose consciousness. She stated that after she left to go her mother’s house, Libby followed her and allegedly took her cellphone and the cellphone of one of her relatives and destroyed them. He then assaulted a male who was at the residence, according to the court document.

Libby was transported to the Knox County Jail in Rockland. When he was informed of his charges, police said he became angry and while he was in a holding cell, he threw a tray of food at the bars, covering Palmer and corrections officer Sgt. Elmer Sweetland with food.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com