Man sentenced to prison in Lee County strangulation case

DIXON – A Dixon man has been sentenced to up to three years in prison after pleading guilty to choking a woman this summer to the point where she lost consciousness.

Joseph Linscott, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated domestic battery/strangulation Thursday in a plea deal that dismissed two domestic battery charges, one of them a Class 4 felony, and two misdemeanor battery charges.

During his plea hearing in Lee County Circuit Court, Linscott admitted that he choked the woman July 28 at a Dixon residence to the point where she passed out and that marks were found on her neck.

Linscott must serve 85% of the sentence, serve four years of mandatory supervised release and was fined $5,000. He was given credit for 144 days served. An order of protection will remain in place.

Linscott faced anywhere from three to seven years in prison, although that term could have been increased to 14 years under allowable, enhanced sentencing guidelines.

He will be sent to Stateville Correctional Center, according to online court records.