$50,000 Bail For Man Who Allegedly Strangled – Punched Girlfriend

On August 6, 38 year-old Peter Maney allegedly beat, strangled, and dragged his girlfriend by her hair during an argument at his residence, after telling her he was going to kill her.

Maney was arrested on August 9 and appeared in Missoula Justice Court on Friday to face charges of his third count of partner or family member assault, aggravated assault with reasonable apprehension, both felonies, and a misdemeanor count of destruction or tampering with a communication device.

Deputy Missoula County Attorney Brittany Santorno asked Judge Marie Anderson for a bail amount of $100,000, due to the violent nature of the assault.

"This defendant committed a very violent offense, including strangulation, hitting, dragging by the hair, and threatening to kill the victim," Santorno said. "There is evidence the defendant is heavily involved in alcohol and methamphetamine. He has two prior partner of family member assault convictions in 2012. The prosecutor does not object to pretrial supervision, but does reserve the right to object to a reduction in bail"

Missoula attorney Paul Ryan appeared on behalf of Maney, and asked for a lesser bail amount, due to mitigating circumstances, including that the alleged victim struck Maney with a baseball bat.

Judge Anderson set bail at $50,000, and ordered Maney to reappear on August 29.