Man Charged With Choking Girlfriend in Eden Prairie Home

A St. Paul man faces up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine following accusations that he tried to choke his girlfriend during an altercation in Eden Prairie, according to court documents.

James Leon Burnaugh, 29, has been charged with felony domestic assault by strangulation.

Police went to a home on the 7400 block of Mitchell Road on Sept. 10, according to charging documents signed by Eden Prairie Officer James Lindgren. Burnaugh’s girlfriend told officers he got mad at her and pushed her into a coffee table. He then held her down on the floor while squeezing her neck tightly, she said.

The woman said she couldn’t speak or breathe while he was allegedly choking her.

She stumbled to another room after Burnaugh released her, according to the charging documents. But he allegedly restrained her, bent her backward and choked her again, causing her to think that he planned to kill her.

Police noted she had several marks on both sides of her neck.  

Officers arrested Burnaugh outside the home. He said his girlfriend hit him and he pinned her against the wall in self-defense.