Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence

Jury Convicts Man of Assault, Strangulation, Several Protective Order Violations From 2023 Domestic Violence Incident

NORFOLK, Va. — A jury convicted Christian Ellis Fontaine, 25, on Friday of strangulation, abduction, multiple violations of protective orders, possessing a firearm while subject to a protective order, and domestic assault after he attacked his then-girlfriend in 2023 and subsequently harassed her despite the emergency protective order that she secured against him.

On the night of Nov. 19, 2023, Mr. Fontaine and the victim, with whom he lived at the time, got into an argument about their relationship. The victim recorded this encounter using her phone. During the argument, Mr. Fontaine pulled out a handgun and held it in front of the victim. Mr. Fontaine eventually put the gun down, but, 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 Mr. Fontaine to let go of her, and Mr. Fontaine then put the victim in a chokehold and strangled her until she became dizzy, her vision blurred, and she was unable to breathe. Mr. Fontaine eventually let go but then pushed the victim onto their bed and strangled her again.

After Mr. Fontaine let go the second time, the victim tried to run out the front and back doors of the residence, but Mr. Fontaine blocked both her attempts to leave. The victim went back to their room as if to take a moment to calm down, grabbed a pre-packed bag of her belongings, and was able to run out of the front door when Mr. Fontaine went to another room. Mr. Fontaine heard the alarm chime when the victim did this, ran out the door after the victim, and tried to block her from pulling out of her parking spot. Mr. Fontaine climbed on top of the car, banging on the victim’s windshield, and tried to open her door and the passenger door when the victim momentarily stopped the car. After Mr. Fontaine got off her car, the victim — who was without a cellphone and unable to call 911 — continued driving to a friend’s residence on the Old Dominion University campus, where university police became involved. After officers spoke with the victim and contacted the Norfolk Police, a warrant against Mr. Fontaine was secured for domestic assault.

Two days after the assault occurred, the victim spoke with Norfolk Police detectives who secured additional warrants against Mr. Fontaine for brandishing a firearm, strangulation, and abduction. The victim also secured an emergency protective order against Mr. Fontaine, which Mr. Fontaine repeatedly violated after he was served with the order. These violations included Mr. 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.

Mr. 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 Mr. 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 Mr. Fontaine’s trial, set his sentencing on May 23.

“Thank you to the survivor of Mr. Fontaine’s dangerous assaults for her courage and perseverance as the police and judicial processes played out. We are glad that she is safe and that we have held Mr. Fontaine accountable,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “People who strangle their domestic partners are several times more likely to kill their domestic partners. That is why the General Assembly made strangulation a felony and why we focus resources on prosecuting this offense. We will continue to hold accountable people who endanger our citizens.”

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Victoria T. Vaccaro and Liane Galardi are prosecuting Mr. Fontaine’s case. 

###