Man faces prison for domestic violence in Springfield

NORRISTOWN » A domestic violence incident in Springfield Township has landed a Philadelphia man in state prison.

David R. Washington, 39, of the 800 block of East Sharpnack Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 2 to 4 years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of strangulation in connection with an April 2019 incident at a residence in the 7800 block of New Street in the Wyndmoor section of Springfield Township.

Judge Thomas C. Branca imposed the sentence as part of a plea agreement. The judge ordered Washington to have no offensive contact with the victim and to complete a domestic violence counseling program as conditions of the sentence.

An investigation began about 7:30 p.m. April 15, 2019, when Springfield Township police responded to the New Street residence for a report of a domestic assault. The call came from a neighbor of the victim, according to court documents.

When police arrived at the residence, Washington answered the door and police noticed he was bleeding from the right side of his face, according to the criminal complaint filed by Springfield Township Police Officer Thomas Sweeney. Police also made contact with a woman in the residence.

The woman stated Washington showed up at the home to get some of his belongings.

“When he arrived an argument ensued, which promptly escalated to a physical fight where Washington pushed (the victim) against the wall and began strangling her, restricting her ability to breathe,” Sweeney alleged in a criminal complaint.

During the fight, Washington allegedly struck the victim with a closed fist several times and attempted to strangle her again, according to court papers.

“When Washington attempted to strangle (the victim) on the second attempt, she picked up a glass candle and struck Washington on the side of the face, which caused him to stop fighting,” Sweeney alleged. “I observed bruising on (the victim’s) neck and face consistent with strangulation and being punched.”

Another misdemeanor charge of simple assault was dismissed against Washington as part of the plea agreement under which he pleaded guilty to the most serious felony strangulation charge.