Zachary Holt
A Gardnerville man was held to answer on charges of attempted sexual assault and domestic battery with strangulation on Thursday morning.
Zachary McCoybuster Holt, 36, appeared for a preliminary hearing in East Fork Justice Court where the survivor testified that he attempted to rape her on Dec. 9, 2024, and then strangled her after she tried to get him to leave.
She testified that she punched him in the face to get him off her and then tried to go upstairs to reach a phone.
He ran ahead of her and pushed her onto the bed.
“He said he was going to jail anyway, so he started choking me,” she said. “He had his hands on my neck and was pressing on my jugular veins. I remember I thought, ‘this might be it, and I might die.’”
She said that when he loosened his grip, she told him she wouldn’t call the authorities. He let go and returned her phone, which she used to call 911.
Holt declined the opportunity to testify during the hearing. He is represented by attorney Brian Filter. Heidi Remick represented the prosecution.
East Fork Justice of the Peace Laurie Trotter found there was sufficient evidence presented to bind Holt over for further proceedings.
Holt was ordered to Douglas County District Court on March 11. He remains in custody in the Douglas County Jail in lieu of $140,000 bail.