A former Mobile police officer accused of assaulting his girlfriend gave up his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday.
A grand jury now will consider whether to indict Jacob Matthews, 33, on a charge of domestic violence-strangulation, a felony that carries a possible punishment of two to 20 years in prison. The criminal complaint alleges that Matthews gripped the woman’s neck so tightly that she lost consciousness while she was holding her 5-year-old daughter.
A preliminary hearing is designed to ensure that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to charge people with crimes so that defendants do not have to wait months or even years with serious allegations hanging over them. It especially is important in cases where defendants are locked up. But Matthews is out on bond and his attorney, David Barnett, told FOX10 News that he had a productive conversation with the detective on the case.
Matthews, who had been on the force since September 2018, resigned from the Mobile Police Department just before his arrest in March. Barnett said his client has not had any contact with his accuser. Mobile County District Judge George Zoghby reminded the defendant of a no-contact order that remains in place.
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