Post Falls man sentenced to prison for strangulation, intimidation

A Post Falls man was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison with parole eligibility after five years after being found guilty of attempted strangulation, intimidating a witness and violating a no-contact order. 

The convictions of Christian Michael Stone, 23, stemmed from an Aug. 21 incident when officers responded to the report of domestic abuse, according to a Friday press release from the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

During the investigation, officers learned that Stone, on more than one occasion, choked and/or attempted to strangle his then significant other between April and August, the release said.

Magistrate Judge John Cafferty on Aug. 22 ordered that Stone be held in jail on a $5,000 bond and issued a no-contact order. 

"However, in the days following his arrest, Stone violated the no-contact order by calling his significant other and the other witness from jail and attempted to influence their cooperation and/or testimony in the case," the release said.

Stone was on probation at the time for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, the release said.

Stone also had three pending cases out of Spokane County from April: a domestic assault, protection order violations and resisting arrest.

Stone was sentenced by District Judge Ross Pittman.