By Joe Bachman

Court Reporter

WOOD COUNTY — A 29-year-old man faces charges of second degree sexual assault after police say he strangled a woman to the point of unconsciousness and then sexually assaulted her.

Andrew Martinez, of Marshfield, is charged with second degree sexual assault and strangulation and suffocation.

According to police reports, on Aug. 12, 2014, officers were dispatched to a domestic disturbance call on the 600 block of West Laurel Court.

Officers made contact with Martinez and immediately noticed blood on his shirt as well as blood splattered on the wall. Martinez allegedly informed officers that two family members were hard to deal with and were the cause of the disturbance. Martinez then informed officers that they should not go into the bedroom because a naked woman was in the room.

Officers reportedly found a woman lying on the bed, unconscious, and nude from the waist down. Reports state that one of the family members informed officers that the complainant was “choked” earlier by Martinez.

The complainant would later tell police that she was in an altercation with Martinez, who threatened to kill himself and started to cut his finger with a knife. After she made attempts to stop him, Martinez allegedly threw her to the ground and pinned her down, where she was strangled until she blacked out.

Medical evidence would later indicate that the woman had been assaulted while she was unconscious.

If convicted, Martinez faces up to 40 years imprisonment and up to $100,000 in fines. His jury trial was scheduled for Feb. 18 but has been rescheduled. A new trial date is pending.