By Amanda Lillie, staff reporter

AUSTIN — An Albert Lea man who was convicted of domestic assault after choking a woman until she passed out has been sentenced to 21 months in prison by Mower County District Court.

Jonathan William Talamantes, 24, was originally sentenced to three years supervised probation for the incident, which occurred April 15, 2010. However, after violating his probation he will now serve his full sentence.

According to court documents, Talamantes had been consuming alcohol at a party the night of April 14, 2010, when he pulled a woman at the party aside and confronted her about something. The conversation became violent when he apparently began punching her in the face and kneeing her. Despite the woman’s efforts to cover her face, he continued to strike her until he grabbed her throat and choked her until she passed out.

A friend intervened and stopped the assault after the woman passed out. When she came to, Talamantes made her drive him to a friend’s house. Before getting out of the car, he backhanded her in the face, drawing blood.

Police observed bruises on the woman’s face and scratches on her neck consistent with her testimony.

Talamantes has previously been charged for second-degree assault, being an ineligible person possessing a firearm and attempted burglary.