A Saginaw man charged with attempting to strangle his girlfriend and setting a mattress on fire outside her residence pleaded guilty to two charges Tuesday.
Justin Dakin Begay, 22, pleaded guilty to one gross misdemeanor count of fourth-degree arson and a misdemeanor count of domestic assault. He had originally been charged with the misdemeanor count and felony counts of domestic assault by strangulation and first-degree arson.
Judge Shaun R. Floerke scheduled sentencing for Oct. 6.
According to the criminal complaint:
Duluth police responded to a report of a domestic assault about 9:41 p.m. April 19. The woman said that Begay, her "prior partner," had assaulted her. The initial responding officer found a mattress leaning against the side of the residence and it was on fire.
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The woman told police that she had told Begay that he had to move out of the apartment. He became angry and wouldn't leave. He then attacked her, she said. The defendant left the area. He was found by police in the Fond-du-Luth Casino at 12:20 a.m. April 20.
