NEWPORT — Last week a Newport man who has been in prison for the past seven months, was sentenced to serve up to seven years for attempting to strangle his wife.
Thomas Tullis Jr., 34, was in Orleans County Superior Court on Thursday where he changed his plea in the case to no contest.
Tullis was about to go to trial after pleading not guilty to the charges earlier in the year.
Judge Howard VanBenthuysen accepted the plea deal, and agreed to dismiss one of the charges Tullis was facing. He ordered Tullis to serve between seven months and seven years in prison for the charge of aggravated domestic assault in the first degree.
The incident happened on November 3, 2014, when Newport City Police responded to a call that a fight was taking place at the Tullis residence. When police arrived the victim told them that Tullis had tried to strangle her.
According to an affidavit filed by police, the victim had bruises around her neck after the incident.
Records show that Tullis has been convicted on numerous charges in the past, including simple assault and disorderly conduct.
