Man accused of beating, sexually assaulting live-in girlfriend

A Simms, Texas, man accused of physically and sexually assaulting a woman he was living with appeared before a Bowie County judge Monday in Texarkana.

Jonathan Keith Gressman, 32, was arrested last month by the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office for aggravated sexual assault for allegedly attacking his girlfriend July 18. At a hearing Monday before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell, Gressman’s attorney, Shoaib Daredia, told the court the case should be referred to the Bowie County grand jury. If the grand jury indicts Gressman, the case will be scheduled for trial.

Gressman allegedly began drinking around 6 p.m. July 18, according to a probable cause affidavit. When his girlfriend declined his sexual advances, Gressman allegedly became enraged and struck her with a metal cane and choked her. The woman told investigators with the BCSO and Naples, Texas, police that she managed to get away from Gressman at that point but that he followed her in his vehicle and found her hiding in a ditch. The woman claims Gressman forced her into his car where he continued to assault her.

Gressman allegedly bit the woman’s nose, causing it to bleed, once in the car. After driving her back to the house they shared, Gressman allegedly hit the woman more with the cane and bit her left breast.

“(The woman) stated Gressman pulled out the handle of the cane that contained a knife and put the knife to her head while telling her she was not going to withhold sex anymore,” the affidavit states.

Gressman allegedly ordered the woman to perform a sexual act, call him “daddy” and say, “yes sir.” The woman told investigators she waited until Gressman was asleep before leaving and going to her mother’s home in Naples the following morning where she called police.

Naples police contacted BCSO after learning the alleged attack occurred in Bowie County. BCSO Lt. George Huggins met with the woman at a hospital in Mount Pleasant, Texas, in Titus County.

“Lt. Huggins observed the victim to have bruising on her arms and neck, a bite mark and blood on her nose, blood around her right ear and swelling and redness around her eyes,” the affidavit states.

The Bowie County grand jury meets later in August. Tidwell scheduled Gressman to return to court in September. He is currently being held in the Bowie County jail.