A Casper man was charged with three counts of aggravated assault after repeatedly hitting and choking a friend of his ex-wife this weekend.

Bryan Freddy Gutierrez, 30, also was charged with a felony count of driving under the influence for the fourth time in 10 years.

Gutierrez heard the charges against him in Natrona County Circuit Court on Monday.

Circuit Court Judge Michael Patchen set his bond at $50,000 because of these allegations of violence, the felony DUI charge, a previous history of violence, and an active arrest warrant in Louisiana.

If convicted, each aggravated assault charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. If convicted, the felony DUI charge carries a maximum penalty of up to seven years imprisonment.

The case began early Saturday morning when police officers responded to a report about a fight in North Jackson Street in north Casper, according to an affidavit filed in Natrona County Circuit Court.

According to his ex-wife, she and Gutierrez went drinking that night. When they returned to a residence in Mills, they got into a fight. She called a friend to pick her up and go to Gutierrez's mother's place on North Jackson Street to pick up her son.

Gutierrez began following them in his vehicle, tailgating her, and trying to ram it and force it off the road.

When the two women got out of their vehicle, Gutierrez had arrived in the area. He then began striking her friend in the head and face a half dozen times and began choking her.

The ex-wife was able to get her child, and Gutierrez began attacking her friend again. When they got into their vehicle, Gutierrez also pushed his way in and told his ex-wife he would kill her.

The friend told police that Gutierrez had assaulted his ex-wife on numerous occasions.

When questioned by police, Gutierrez repeatedly told them "'nothing happened,'" according to the affidavit.

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