Roy James Broncheau, Strangulation, ID 2023

Roy James Broncheau, 35, of Kamiah, Idaho, is headed to federal prison for 24 months after pleading guilty to the brutal strangulation of his female partner on the Nez Perce tribal reservation. The sentence, handed down in Coeur d’Alene federal court, marks a hard-fought measure of justice in a case defined by intimate violence and federal jurisdiction.

Broncheau, an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe, pleaded guilty on December 6, 2017, to the federal crime of strangulation under 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(8). The charge was triggered when he intentionally applied pressure to his partner’s throat or neck, obstructing her breathing during a violent confrontation. No visible injuries were required under the statute—only the act itself.

U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis confirmed the sentence, emphasizing that federal law now explicitly criminalizes non-fatal strangulation when committed against a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner. “This law exists because strangulation is often a precursor to homicide,” Davis stated. “We act fast and hard when someone tries to silence another by cutting off their breath.”

Chief U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill imposed the 24-month prison term and tacked on three years of supervised release. During that period, Broncheau will be monitored for compliance with court-ordered conditions, including potential restrictions on contact, substance use, and firearm possession.

The statute under which Broncheau was convicted became effective in March 2013, closing a critical gap in federal protections for victims of domestic violence on tribal lands. It covers not only completed acts of strangulation but also attempted suffocation—even when no lasting physical marks remain. Prosecutors called it a vital tool in holding abusers accountable before escalation to murder.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Nez Perce Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Authorities stressed that coordination between tribal and federal agencies is essential to enforcing justice in Indian Country, where domestic violence rates far exceed national averages. The case stands as a stark reminder: choking someone during a fight isn’t just assault—it’s a federal crime with prison time.