WINONA — A 31-year-old man convicted in 2006 of attempted murder has been sentenced to stayed prison terms for choking and threatening a woman in 2014.
Dionte Terell Banks, now of West Salem, Wis., pleaded guilty in October to two counts of felony domestic assault. In exchange for the plea, additional felony counts of aggravated first-degree witness tampering, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, terroristic threats and another count of domestic assault were dismissed.
Winona County District Court Judge Jeffrey D. Thompson on Wednesday sentenced Banks to concurrent prison terms of 28 and 21 months in prison, stayed for five years. Banks was also ordered to serve 64 days in jail, with credit for 64 days served, and pay $885 in fines.
In addition, he must complete psychological evaluation/treatment.
The case began when police responded the evening of Aug. 4, 2014, to a residence in Winona, where the woman said she'd arrived home from work to find Banks drinking. She told investigators he pushed her into their bedroom and onto the bed, choking her and demanding her phone.
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The woman was able to push Banks off and run outside, the criminal complaint says, but Banks followed her and pulled her back into the house. He allegedly hit her with the lid from a plastic tub, then grabbed a kitchen knife, pointed it at her and said, "I'll (expletive) kill you. Don't call the cops."
The victim grabbed another knife to defend herself, the complaint says, and Banks threatened to cut the wires in her car. He reportedly told her if he came back, he'd burn the house down, then left.
The woman took her son into a bedroom and barricaded the door until the police came.
According to the report, officers noted a knife on the back step and marks on the victim's neck.
A review of Banks' criminal history reflects convictions for aggravated battery with a firearm and attempted murder in 2006.
