Man Sentenced for Strangling Spouse in Japan

A Michigan man was sentenced to one year and a day in prison for assaulting and strangling his spouse at their off-base residence outside of U.S. Army Garrison Japan in Sagamihara, Japan.

According to court documents, on July 19, 2021, Robert Hammock, 39, of Detroit, and his spouse got into an argument inside their residence. The argument escalated and Hammock punched his spouse in the eye twice, hit her on the head and body, pushed her to the ground, and then strangled her. She was able to escape only when Hammock stopped assaulting her as he attempted to take her cell phone, which she had dropped due to the force of the strangulation. The victim sustained injuries, including bruising around her eye and on her cheekbone, and lacerations on her neck.

On May 4, Hammock pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Michigan to one count of assault of a spouse by strangulation.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan, and Special Agent in Charge Michael DeFamio of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army CID) Far East Field Office made the announcement.

Army CID investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Chelsea Schinnour of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Taylor for the Eastern District of Michigan prosecuted the case.