On March 3, 2010, the Honorable Judge Darryl B. Ferguson imposed a prison sentence of four years on 54-year-old Edward Dowaliby, Jr. of Visalia.

On August 26, 2008, Visalia Police Department officers were dispatched to a domestic violence call. The victim informed the officers that the defendant pulled her around the residence and punched her in the head. The victim ran from the defendant and called 911. The defendant grabbed the phone from her, pulled it from the wall and threw it across the room. He then pushed her to the ground and attempted to strangle her. After his arrest, a Judge issued a protective order to stop the defendant from having contact with the victim. Despite the order, the defendant made phone calls to the victim in violation of the court order.

On February 1, 2010, the defendant entered a no contest plea to felony violations of Penal Code section 273.5(a), inflicting injury on a cohabitant resulting in traumatic condition and Penal Code section 591, cutting a utility line. On that date, he also pled no contest to twelve misdemeanor violations of Penal Code section 273.6, for disobeying the protective order. On March 3, 2010, the defendant was sentenced to serve four years in prison for his crimes.

This case was prosecuted by DDA Erika Ziegenhorn, and investigated by Officer Esparza of Visalia Police Department and Investigator Jose Benavides of the District Attorney’s Office.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney Don Gallian at (559) 733-6411.