Belmarez Acquitted on One Count, Convicted on Three

While convicted killer Frank Joe Belmarez was acquitted of one aggravated assault charge on Tuesday, he was found guilty on three other charges.  Belmarez was convicted on felony counts of partner or family member assault, misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest.
Prosecutors charged him with aggravated assault after his girlfriend reported he had strangled her during the assault and caused her to fear for her life.  The jury acquitted Belmarez on that charge, but found him guilty of the other felony assault charge against him.
On Tuesday, Belmarez testified he never choked her.  He said she swung at him for no reason, and he defended himself.  He claimed the woman’s injuries presented in court were from when she fell on the kitchen floor.  The unidentified victim testified before Yellowstone County District Court Judge Rod Souza.