A 21-year-old Hicksville man is facing felony charges after police say he bit a woman's face repeatedly and choked her so hard she struggled to breathe during an argument that turned violent late Friday night. The woman was left in critical but stable condition at a nearby hospital, and investigators say the attack also violated a valid order of protection.
According to longisland.com, officers responded to a Harding Avenue residence in Hicksville for a disturbance around 10:45 p.m. Friday. Detectives said a verbal argument between Geovanny Lucero Vidal, 21, and a 27-year-old woman escalated into a physical altercation. As detailed in a Nassau County Police, NY news flash, the Second Squad reported Vidal's arrest for assault following the incident.
Victim Reached Out to a Family Member for Help
Detectives allege that Vidal struck and bit the victim in the face multiple times before forcibly grabbing her around the neck and applying pressure that made it difficult for her to breathe, per the same account from longisland.com. Unable to call police herself in the moment, the woman managed to contact a family member, who then called police on her behalf. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she remains listed in critical but stable condition.
Investigators also determined that Vidal was in violation of a valid order of protection at the time of the alleged assault, the outlet reported. Vidal was placed under arrest without incident, according to the report.
Charges Include Assault, Obstruction of Breathing and Contempt
Vidal was charged with Assault in the First Degree, Criminal Obstruction of Breathing in the Second Degree and Aggravated Criminal Contempt, per the article. He was arraigned Saturday in First District Court at 99 Main Street in Hempstead. Patch separately reported on the same incident, describing the 21-year-old Hicksville man as accused of attacking the 27-year-old woman after the argument turned physical.
Under New York law, aggravated criminal contempt can apply in cases where a defendant has a prior conviction for aggravated criminal contempt or criminal contempt tied to a violation of an order of protection within the preceding five years, according to New York State Senate statute records. It is not established whether that specific provision applies in Vidal's case.
New York courts track orders of protection statewide through a dashboard maintained by the New York State Unified Court System, which counts orders issued rather than individuals involved.
