Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 33-year-old Ghanem AbuGhanem of Lackawanna has been sentenced by Acting Erie County Court Judge James A. W. McLeod to a determinate sentence of 5 years in prison followed by 3 years of post-release supervision.

On July 18, 2017, at approximately 5:40 p.m., the defendant assaulted and strangled the victim, his pregnant wife, following an argument inside their home on Ingham Avenue in the City of Lackawanna.

The defendant dragged the victim into their toddler’s empty bedroom. When the victim attempted to call for help, the defendant threw her cell phone against the wall, which caused the battery to pop out.

The defendant forced the victim to the ground, put his hands around her neck and applied pressure in an attempt to obstruct her breathing. The defendant also jumped on the victim’s back and drove his knee into her spine, causing her pain. After choking her, the defendant punched the victim in the face with a cell phone in his hand.

As the victim screamed for help, the defendant used a baby blanket to gag the victim and wrapped it tightly around her head and neck, strangling the victim until she lost consciousness.

When the victim awoke in pain with a bloodied nose and mouth, she was able to put her cell phone back together and call 911.

In December 2018, a jury found AbuGhanem guilty of one count of Strangulation in the Second Degree, a Class “D” violent felony, one count of Criminal Obstruction of Breathing, a Class “A” misdemeanor, and two counts of Assault in the Third Degree, also Class “A” misdemeanors. The defendant was convicted on all charges in the indictment against him after one hour of deliberations following a six day trial.

In addition to his sentence, Judge McLeod signed an order of protection for the victim, which remains in effect until 2030.

DA Flynn commends the quick response by Theodore Katra and Gene Oivieri of the Lackawanna Fire Department who were first on the scene to help the victim as well as EMT Diana Scott.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Louis C. Mussari and Timothy J. Garvin of the DA’s Domestic Violence Bureau.