By Jacob Mathias

A former Stevens Point man faces felony charges after allegedly choking his ex-wife while driving with their children in the car.

Nathan Reichert, 27, formerly of Stevens Point and now living in Westfield, Wis., is charged with felony strangulation and suffocation, which carries a maximum sentence of up to a $10,000 fine, six years imprisonment or both if convicted.

Another charge, misdemeanor bail jumping, has a maximum sentence of up to a $10,000 fine, nine months imprisonment or both. The bail jumping charge comes as a result of a pending battery and disorderly conduct charge.

Reichert made his initial appearance in Portage Co. Circuit Court on July 11.

According to court documents, officers from Stevens Point and Plover police departments were dispatched to a Plover home after receiving a report of a domestic abuse incident on May 5. Upon arrival, officers met with the victim who recounted the night’s events.

According to the victim, she and Reichert had recently separated but continued to jointly care for their children. On the evening of the incident, Reichert, the woman and their children had been returning from a doctor’s appointment in the same vehicle.

During the drive home, Reichert became angry at the woman for breaking up, and reportedly became increasingly angry and threatened to punch the woman — who was driving the vehicle — in the face.

The victim told police Reichert then grabbed her by the throat and began strangling, her which caused her pain and difficulty breathing, as she was driving. Responding officers reported observing red marks on the victim’s throat.

Once he removed his hands from her throat, the woman said she pulled over and forced him from the car, then drove home with her children and called the police.

Reichert is free on a $500 signature bond and returns to court on August 15 at 3;00 PM for a preliminary hearing.