Michael Stanley Charged With Abusing His Then Girlfriend

A Natrona County man who had recently been released from the Wyoming Behavioral Institute is accused of pointing a knife and choking a woman that he was in a relationship with.

Michael Stanley has pleaded not guilty to one charge of aggravated assault and battery with a drawn deadly weapon, and two charges of strangulation of a household member.

Investigators with the Natrona County Sheriff's Office say in middle August, they were contacted by the victim who said she and Stanley were at the Archery Range Campground, when he pointed a knife at her, saying he was going to beat her if she didn't do what he wanted.

The victim was able to knock the knife out of Stanley's hand causing her to injure herself.

She then left the area and contact law enforcement.

She told investigators that she and Stanley met 2 weeks prior at the WBI, and started a relationship, but it was troubled and abusive from the beginning and she had been choked at least six times.

Stanley is being held on $25,000 bond awaiting trial, and could face up to 10 years in prison on the aggravated assault and battery charge, and up to five years in prison for each of the strangulation charges if convicted.