DA: Kingston man punched, choked woman, then called her from jail illegally

KINGSTON - The Ulster County District Attorney's office said Thursday a Kingston man pleaded guilty last week to second-degree strangulation and first-degree criminal contempt, both felonies.

According to the district attorney's office, the case began on April 23, 2024, when Jalik Walker, 24, of Kingston, repeatedly punched his partner while she was on the ground following a verbal domestic dispute that escalated and became physical.

Walker then pressed his arm to the victim's throat, causing her to have difficulty breathing and physically injuring her.

Kingston police arrested Walker and an order of protection was issued to the victim, requiring Walker to stay away from her and avoid all direct or third-party communication with her.

On May 27, Kingston police officers saw Walker in the physical presence of the victim after receiving a 911 call from a community member who witnessed Walker physically assaulting the woman on the street.

Walker was arrested and indicted for first-degree criminal contempt, a felony, and resisting arrest, a misdemeanor.

On July 15, Kingston police received a 911 call reporting that Walker was slapping the victim in the face repeatedly. When he was approached by Kingston police offices, Walker tried to flee and resisted arrest. Walker was arrested, charged with first-degree criminal contempt and sent to the Ulster County jail.

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The district attorney's office said while Walker was in the jail, he repeatedly violated the orders of protection by calling the victim from another incarcerated person's phone.

"Jalik Walker is a dangerous individual who subjected this young woman to repeated abuse," Jenna Hastings, the Special Victims Bureau chief for the district attorney's office, said in a statement. "Even after multiple orders of protection and arrests, he continued to violate the court orders, locking in his grip to the victim."

Mark Formichelli of the Dutchess County Public Defender's office, who represented Walker, had no comment.

Walker is scheduled to be sentenced by Ulster County Court Judge Bryan Rounds on Nov. 14.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: DA: Kingston man punched, choked woman, then called her from jail illegally