A Twentynine Palms man was convicted yesterday (February 1) of numerous assault charges after he was arrested for allegedly strangling his wife with a belt.
On November 16, Michael Champagne, a 33 year-old resident of Twentynine Palms, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his wife. At the time, Deputies who responded to the 6500 block of Mariposa Avenue in Twentynine Palms say that Champagne assaulted his wife and strangled her with a belt until she was unconscious.
At a jury trial held this week in San Bernardino County’s Joshua Tree courthouse, a jury found Champagne guilty of 5 felony counts, including false imprisonment, three charges related to violent assault, and making criminal threats.
Champagne is expected back in court for sentencing on February 29.
