NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — After strangling his girlfriend and repeatedly violating his protective order, a 25-year-old man was found guilty in Norfolk on March 21, a release states.

A jury convicted Christian Fontaine after he assaulted his then-girlfriend back in 2023. The couple got into a fight about their relationship on Nov. 19, 2023, that was recorded by the victim.

During the argument, Fontaine pulled out a handgun and held it in front of her before eventually putting it down. When he realized he was being recorded, he assaulted the victim by twisting her arm to take her phone. The victim threw her phone to get him to let go of her, and was then put in a chokehold.

Fontaine strangled her until she became dizzy, her vision blurred and she was unable to breathe. Fontaine let go and then pushed the victim onto their bed and strangled her again.

The victim attempted to escape after he let go a second time but both attempts were blocked. She went back to their room “as if to take a moment to calm down”, grabbed a pre-packed bag of her belongings and ran out the front door when Fontaine was in another room.

Upon hearing the alarm, he chased her and tried to block her from pulling out of her parking spot, climbing on the car, banging on her window and trying to open her passenger door. After he got off her car, the victim, without her cell phone to call 911, drove to a friend on Old Dominion University’s campus.

After officers spoke with the victim and contacted the Norfolk Police to secure a warrant for domestic assault.

Two days after the assault occurred, the victim spoke with Norfolk Police detectives who secured additional warrants against Fontaine for brandishing a firearm, strangulation and abduction.

The victim also secured an emergency protective order against Fontaine, which Fontaine repeatedly violated after he was served with the order. These violations included Fontaine showing up to the victim’s residence and continuing to carry a firearm, which is prohibited while a person is subject to a protective order.

Fontaine pleaded not guilty to all of his charges and opted to be tried by a jury on Wednesday, March 19.

After hearing the evidence on Wednesday and Thursday and deliberating on Friday, the jury found Fontaine guilty of strangulation, abduction, seven violations of protective orders, possessing a firearm while subject to a protective order and domestic assault.

Judge Joseph C. Lindsey, who presided over Fontaine’s trial, set his sentencing on May 23.