Moorcroft man charged with strangulation

A Moorcroft man has been charged with strangulation after allegedly grabbing a victim by the neck during an argument.

On November 10 at around noon, a Crook County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called to a domestic dispute in Moorcroft. The reporting party claimed that they had received a text message from a sibling stating that Jeffrey Dowling had strangled them and said he wanted them dead.

The deputy asked for additional units and responded. As he was doing so, he received more information that drugs and alcohol were thought to be involved.

The deputy knocked on the door of the house and it was answered by Dowling, who allegedly stated that there had been an argument but it did not get physical.

The deputy interviewed the alleged victim, who said Dowling had tried to choke them. The deputy noted “obvious marks on the right side of [their] neck consistent with being choked”.

According to court reports, Dowling said that the argument had been going on for days and he had become frustrated, which was why he put his hands around the victim’s neck. However, he said he “didn’t squeeze”.

Dowling has been charged with strangulation of a household member, a felony carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years of incarceration, a $10,000 fine or both.