Man Charged for Violent Assault on Former Intimate Partner

A Tulsa man has been charged in federal court for assaulting and strangling his former intimate partner, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

Terrance DuJuan Reed, 29, was charged by criminal complaint with assault of an intimate partner by strangling, suffocating, or attempting to strangle or suffocate in Indian Country. The crime occurred in Tulsa within the Cherokee Nation Reservation.

According to the complaint and affidavit, Reed asked for a ride when the victim picked up her two minor children from his mother’s home on Feb. 16, 2020. During the car ride, Reed began yelling and questioning the victim about a recent trip she took with friends and once they arrived at his destination demanded to check her text messages. Following the victim’s refusal to hand over her cell phone, Reed allegedly punched the victim, dragged her from the car and began to strangle the victim with his hands. He then allegedly placed his arm around her throat and neck and strangled her until she passed out. He continued his violent attack by punching the victim in the head, eyes and mouth. Upon regaining consciousness, she attempted to call 911 for help, but Reed took her cell phone and fled the scene.

The victim drove herself to a family member’s home to receive help. 911 was called, and emergency responders transported the victim to the hospital for care.

Reed was located and arrested by Tulsa Police officers on Feb.17, 2020.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cymetra M. Williams is prosecuting the case. Ms. Williams is a prosecutor from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of New Jersey. She volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to increased jurisdictional responsibilities regarding crimes involving Native American victims or defendants and that occur within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Cherokee Nation Reservations. Ms. Williams recently extended six more months to assist with the mission.

This matter will proceed in U.S. District Court in Tulsa, where the criminal complaint is currently pending. A complaint is a temporary charge alleging a violation of law. For the case to proceed to trial, the United States must present the charge to a federal grand jury within 30 days. Once a grand jury returns an indictment, a defendant has a right to a jury trial at which the United States would have the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.