Repeat domestic abuser sentenced to jail for violent attack on girlfriend

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WLNE) — An Attleboro man who violently assaulted his girlfriend last April was sentenced to jail time, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said Wednesday.

According to court documents, Kellie Koehler pleaded guilty in Fall River Superiors Court to indictments charging him with strangulating-subsequent offense, intimidation of a witness, indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14 and domestic assault and battery.

Koehler was sentenced to serve four to six years in state prison, followed by three years of supervised probation. He must also register as a sex offender, must complete a domestic batterer’s program and will be monitored by GPS upon his release from prison.

Officials said that on April 17, 2022, the victim was out in Boston with her friends until approximately 2 a.m. When she got home, Koehler sexually molested her despite her pleas to stop.

After being pushed off the victim, Koehler then tried to pull down the victim’s pants with enough force to rip them. Because the victim did not want to have sex with him, Koehler assumed she was cheating on him and began punching, slapping, head-butting and strangling the victim.

During the assault, the victim tried to call police through her Alexa device but Koehler ripped it out of the wall. The victim was eventually able to text her son who was able to call police.

When police arrived, they said the victim ran out the front door towards the officers. Koehler was in the doorway yelling at the victim to stay in the house.

Security camera video from inside the apartment confirmed the assault transpiring as the victim described.

“The defendant committed a violent and irrational  assault against the victim who he has continued to abuse during their five year relationship. He clearly is a danger to the victim and needs to be locked up to protect her,” District Attorney Quinn said.