$50,000 Bond For Man Who Strangled Girlfriend – Tried To Gouge Out Her Eyes

42 year-old Mark Layne is has been charged with felony aggravated assault after allegedly strangling his girlfriend several times and trying to gouge her eyes out with his thumbs.

Deputy Missoula County Attorney Mark Handelman asked Judge Landee Holloway for $50,000 bond, due to the extremely violent nature of his attacks on his girlfriend, who is significantly smaller than the defendant, who stands over 6'4" and weighs 240 pounds.

"The defendant is charged with felony aggravated assault and partner or family member assault after strangling the victim multiple times, causing her to believe she was going to die," Handelman said. "Two roommates had to pull the defendant off the victim. The PFMA is for the defendant attempting to gouge out the victim's eyes with his thumbs leaving an injury to the victim's eye socket."

Handelman continued his bond argument before Judge Holloway.

"After the incident, the defendant placed four phone calls from the jail to the roommates threatening eviction for not covering for him," he continued. "The victim and both roommates have obtained temporary orders of protection against the defendant."

In addition to the $50,000 bond, Handelman also asked for GPS monitoring to ensure that Layne would stay at least 1,500 feet from the victim and the roommates.

Judge Holloway set bond at $50,000 and ordered Layne to reappear on April 18.