A 59-year-old Minden man was charged with felony domestic violence Sunday after the alleged victim accused the suspect of trying to strangle her.
Charles Patrick Tierney was charged with battery that constitutes domestic violence committed by strangulation.
Officers were called to the couple's house across from Minden Park by a woman walking her dog Sunday afternoon who heard the victim screaming, "Call the cops. You're strangling me."
Tierney, originally jailed on $28,000 bail, was released on his own recognizance Wednesday by East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl after the alleged victim said she wasn't afraid of her husband and wanted him to come home.
She contacted lawyer Tod Young who represented Tierney on Wednesday in justice court.
"I love him and I want him to come home. It's a very terrible situation. I feel bad," she said. "This was a big mistake. I'm not afraid. Chuck's not like this."
She said the couple had been married 29 years.
"We're never not together," she said.
The alleged victim retired from Nevada Parole and Probation and the suspect retired from the Nevada Department of Corrections.
According to reports, the victim and the suspect had been drinking Sunday. She told officers there had been an argument over the condition of their home.
Young said the victim had suffered a serious head injury a few years ago that left her disabled and she needed Tierney to help her.
He said her disability is exacerbated when she's been drinking alcohol. A preliminary test Sunday indicated her alcohol content at .15, nearly twice the legal limit of .08 for driving. The suspect's preliminary level was .016.
Young said the suspect had no prior criminal record and the allegations "came from someone who was highly intoxicated."
He said the woman, dressed in night clothes, went out on the couple's front porch and Tierney went after her.
The alleged victim told deputies on Sunday that Tierney had placed her in a chokehold, lay on top of her, and tried to kill her.
The suspect claimed he grabbed his wife in a "bear hug" to bring her inside the house.
Deputies said the alleged victim's arms, neck, and face were bruised and she had blood on her lip. She refused medical treatment after paramedics were called.
Prosecutor Laurie Trotter asked EnEarl to recuse himself because of his prior knowledge of the alleged victim's head injury.
EnEarl said he didn't believe he would be biased, but would recuse himself to avoid the appearance of a conflict.
He set Tierney's next court appearance for Jan. 27.
Tierney is under the supervision of the Department of Alternative Sentencing. EnEarl ordered all alcohol and any firearms to be removed from the residence.
Both defense and prosecution recommended the Tierneys seek alcohol counseling.
