UPDATE: Felony Strangulation Charge Dropped; Jeremy Steinmetz Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor Domestic Battery

A man initially charged with a felony count of strangulation of a household member pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery in Natrona County Circuit Court on Tuesday.

Jeremy Steinmetz entered his plea during his initial appearance before Circuit Court Judge Steven Brown, who set the defendant's bond at $2,000. Brown also ordered Steinmetz to have no contact with the alleged victim.

Steinmetz objected to the bond, but Brown said the affidavit filed with the case indicated the altercation that lead to the arrest could have become extremely serious.

Officers were called to a residence on Oakcrest Avenue at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, according to an affidavit filed with the Natrona County Circuit Court.

However, the alleged assault occurred at a nearby residence on 12th Street where Jeremy Steinmetz and his girlfriend they had been living for three months, she told police.

During an argument, she said Steinmetz slapped her, choked her with both hands to where she felt like she was going to pass out, and called her derogatory names. She went into another room to pack her belongings, and he hit her again.

She ran to a house on Oakcrest Avenue where she called police.

Officers observed her neck had red marks on her throat, multiple bruises, and a scrape on her right leg.

Steinmetz told police that she caught him sexting with another girl and she was upset about the Green Bay Packers' loss to the Seattle Seahawks earlier that day. He told police she "'attacked him and went crazy.'" Steinmetz, too, had red marks on his throat.