Man sentenced for attempted strangulation

COEUR d’ALENE — A man who pleaded guilty to attempting to strangle his partner will spend up to 15 years in prison.

Elton J. Roberts, 46, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to attempted strangulation, a felony, after police said he tried to choke his partner.

First District Judge John Mitchell sentenced Roberts on Wednesday to 15 years in prison, the maximum possible sentence, and retained jurisdiction in the case. This means Roberts will spend up to a year in a prison treatment program, called a rider, before Mitchell either places him on probation or sends him back to prison.

Roberts pleaded guilty as part of a pretrial settlement offer, according to court records. After he entered the guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed additional charges of malicious injury to property, petit theft, burglary, robbery and domestic battery with traumatic injury.

Roberts has a history of previous offenses, according to the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, including lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16, failure to register as a sex offender, resisting officers, possession of controlled substances, battery and petit theft, as well as numerous probation violations.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual abuse, call Safe Passage Violence Prevention Center’s 24-hour hotline: 208-664-9303.