Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence

Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Strangling, Maliciously Wounding Woman in Domestic Assault

NORFOLK, Va. – Trayvon Cortez Clinkscales, 30, was sentenced on Tuesday to serve two years in prison for felony strangulation and malicious wounding after he attacked his live-in girlfriend last year.

On Nov. 30, Mr. Clinkscales and the victim got into an argument after the victim expressed her desire to visit with her family. The argument escalated into a physical altercation when Mr. Clinkscales put his hands around the victim’s neck and strangled her. After briefly letting go when the victim could not breathe, Mr. Clinkscales strangled her again until she nearly lost consciousness. When Mr. Clinkscales finally stopped strangling the victim, he headbutted her in her mouth and knocked out one of her teeth before leaving the residence. Mr. Clinkscales later admitted to what he did during the attack in a subsequent text message exchange with the victim.

The victim pursued a charge for domestic assault against Mr. Clinkscales the next day with a Norfolk magistrate and obtained an emergency protective order against Mr. Clinkscales. The victim then visited the Police Operations Center and spoke with detectives, who observed bruising around her neck and injuries to her face. Based on their interview, detectives secured additional charges against Mr. Clinkscales for two counts of felony strangulation and one count of malicious wounding.

Mr. Clinkscales pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of strangulation and one count of malicious wounding. Mr. Clinkscales agreed to be sentenced to serve two years in prison with another eight years suspended on the conditions that he have no hostile contact with the victim, pay restitution to the victim, and complete five years of uniform good behavior and an indeterminate period of supervised probation following his release. Judge Joseph C. Lindsey accepted Mr. Clinkscales’ plea agreement, found him guilty, and sentenced Mr. Clinkscales per the agreement.

“Strangulation is an extremely dangerous leading indicator for an abuser who will kill his victim,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Abusers who strangle are multiple times more likely to murder their victims than those who do not. My office focuses training and resources on prosecuting these cases, because doing so helps keep victims alive. We have secured a felony conviction and a prison sentence against Mr. Clinkscales and hope that this outcome will give the survivor of his crime the opportunity to heal and to move on.”

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Victoria V. Kapper prosecuted Mr. Clinkscales’ case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective Stephanie J. Lupo led the investigation.

If you have or someone you love has fallen victim to crime, including but not limited to domestic violence, resources are available at the Norfolk Family Justice Center. For more information, please visit norfolkfjc.org, call 757-330-0376 or stop by the NFJC inside the Park Place Multi-Services Center at 606 W. 29th St., between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. If you are in crisis, call the 24/7 hotline by dialing 757-251-0144. In an emergency, please call 911.

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