Three domestic battery cases involving strangulation in court

Three instances of domestic battery with strangulation came through Douglas County District Court over the case of eight days.

A Gardnerville man admitted on Tuesday that he tried to strangle the mother of his children on May 6 after he and the mother had a tug-of-war over the youngest.

Carlos Anthony Diaz Jr. faces up to 16 years in prison on Nov. 21 after he entered guilty pleas to domestic battery with strangulation, child abuse and battery on a fellow inmate.

A Nov. 6-9 trial was vacated by Diaz’s plea.

According to court documents Diaz, 26, pestered the woman by calling hundreds of times because he wanted to see his children.

When she realized he was leading her to his home, she wanted to take the children and leave, but he grabbed the youngest and ran into the house. When she went to retrieve the child, Diaz choked her into unconsciousness, according to testimony during a May 26 preliminary hearing.

Diaz was free on bail until June 23, when his bail was revoked because he admitted using cocaine and marijuana and tried to communicate with the children via social media.

Diaz was denying the charges stemming from the struggle that left handprints on the survivor’s neck until he started pushing and punching Topaz Ranch Estates resident Jedediah Amodeus Haveman, 21, in the jail on Aug. 11.

Haveman, himself, was sentenced to 2-5 years in prison on Sept. 25 for attempting to strangle his pregnant girlfriend during a June 13 argument. Haveman also received 364 days in jail for battery against a pregnant woman.

On Tuesday, a Topaz Ranch Estates man denied multiple counts related to a Jan. 19 call in which he is accused of trying to strangle his girlfriend in a struggle over their infant child.

The survivor told District Judge Tod Young that she was in fear of Timothy Shane Kaecker at their home.

During a preliminary hearing on Sept. 15, she testified the two were arguing over cleanliness of the house when she decided to leave.

As she was packing, she said Kaecker tried to prevent her from leaving. She tossed her phone to the oldest child, but Kaecker retrieved it, allegedly preventing anyone from calling for help.

During a struggle, she testified Kaecker grabbed her by the neck to the point where she couldn’t breath and blacked out as the oldest screamed at him to stop.

All four children were in the home and witnessed portions of the incident, according to court documents.

Kaecker entered not guilty pleas to felony domestic battery with strangulation, four counts of child abuse or neglect, one count of coercion and one count of gross misdemeanor false imprisonment.

He is scheduled to go to trial June 19, 2024. He is free on bail but must wear a GPS ankle monitor to track his movements.

Kaecker is represented by attorney Brian Filter.