By Jacob Mathias

A Plover man faces felony strangulation charges after a neighbor reported seeing him choking his girlfriend through a window of his home.

Jeffrey Blanchat, 51, is charged with felony strangulation and suffocation, a crime for which he could see up to a $10,000 fine, six years imprisonment or both if convicted. He is also charged with battery for which he could see up to a $10,000 fine, nine months imprisonment or both if convicted.

Blanchat made his initial appearance in Portage County Circuit Court on July 11.

According to court documents, Plover police responded to a Chestnut Dr. residence on June 26 at about 9:30 PM after a caller reported witnessing a physical altercation. When officers arrived they met with a woman who said she could see man choking a woman through an upstairs window.

The officers report hearing unintelligible yelling coming from the apartment. They also report having to knock on the door and announce themselves as police multiple times before a man, Blanchat, answered the door. He told officers there was “nothing going on” in the home.

When the officers spoke with the woman in the residence, she denied any physical violence had taken place.

The officers took a statement from the witness who confirmed her original report, and said Blanchat was throwing punches at the victim, while she was on the phone with the dispatcher from outside. The witness said she could hear Blanchat yelling and cursing at the woman.

Blanchat is currently free on a $2,000 signature bond and is allowed to have contact with the alleged victim at her request.