Hulett man charged with strangulation and aggravated assault

Bob Coronato has been charged with felony counts of strangulation and aggravated assault after an alleged altercation in the early hours of the morning that saw him attack a female victim several times.

On July 31 at around 5 a.m., Crook County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an altercation in Hulett. A deputy responded to the address and was advised while en route that the reporting party had locked herself in the bathroom for protection.

Shortly after, dispatch advised that the male, identified later as Bob Coronato, held a knife to the head of the victim. However, the victim was able to get out of the home before the deputy arrived on scene.

The victim allegedly claimed that an argument had begun between herself and Coronato, causing her to begin packing her belongings. Coronato allegedly followed her to the bathroom and grabbed her by the arms, then by the throat from the front before pushing her down backwards over the toilet and choking her.

According to court reports, Coronato eventually let go and walked away and the victim began gathering more of her belongings to leave and called dispatch.

When she went downstairs to put items in her vehicle and then returned, Coronato allegedly grabbed her by the back of the neck and put her into a headlock and then held the pointed end of a kitchen knife to her forehead.

Coronato then allegedly pushed her down onto a plastic tote filled with glassware, which the victim described as frightening her because of the possibility the glass might break. He then let go of her and walked away and the victim was able to leave the residence.

The deputy reports seeing visible injuries on the victim’s body, including bruising, scuffed skin and marks on her skin. Along with a second deputy, he made contact with Coronato, who allegedly initially confirmed there had been some type of argument and then changed his story and denied any argument had happened.

Coronato allegedly claimed the victim had become upset for an unknown reason and began “flipping out.” The deputy reports that he did not have visible injuries.

The deputy also reports that he was given permission to look around the home and found it not in disarray, but with some female items on the floor in odd places, such as a hair straightener on the floor, and the kitchen knife described by the victim was found in the dish rack.

Coronato has been charged with strangulation of a household member and aggravated assault and battery, both felonies punishable by up to ten years’ incarceration, a $10,000 fine or both. He has also be charged with a misdemeanor count of domestic battery.

A preliminary hearing in this case has been continued until August 31.