A Gainesville man remains in the Hall County Jail without bond after authorities say he assaulted a woman several times over the weekend and in the presence of a toddler. They say he even continued terrorizing the victim from jail.
Sheriff’s office spokeswoman B.J. Williams says this happened beginning about 3:00 Saturday afternoon at a house in the Sardis Road area.
“Prior to deputies’ arrival, Governale and the adult victim had been involved in an argument that escalated to physical violence,” Williams said. “Deputies determined Governale had punched the woman multiple times around her head and body while they were in a bedroom at the house. He then choked her until she briefly lost consciousness. The two-year-old child was in the room at the time, and Governale pushed the child from the bed during the course of the physical fight with the woman.”
The woman escaped the house, Williams said, but Governale followed her outside, took her cellphone, pulled her to the ground by her hair and strangled her a second time, causing her to again lose consciousness. He also allegedly threatened her with a knife. The child witnessed that assault as well.
The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Governale was charged with aggravated assault, false imprisonment, robbery, possession of a knife during the commission of a crime, child cruelty and simple assault. Authorities also charged him with making harassing phone calls after he allegedly contacted the victim from jail after she told him she did not want further contact.