Documents: Man attacked, choked woman while driving with kids in the car

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story contains violent descriptions and a photo of injuries sustained during an alleged attack. Discretion is advised.

MADISON COUNTY — A 29-year-old Sugar City man pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he attacked and choked a woman while she was driving a car with two young children in the back seat.

Devin Kadrlik was arrested March 14 on felony charges of attempted strangulation and injury to a child.

According to a court probable cause document, Kadrlik had been drinking alcohol in Idaho Falls and was given a ride to Rexburg by a woman he is in a relationship with. A 5-year-old and 4-year-old child were also in the vehicle.

At one point during the ride, documents state Kadrlik and the woman got into an argument. Court records do not indicate where the incident took place.

“(She) said Devin’s face was within about a foot of her face and when he yelled something at her, he spit on her,” documents state. “She said she swung her right hand up towards him and told him to get back.”

The victim said Kadrlik then “flipped out” and shoved her head against the driver’s side window while pinning her head against the door.

“(She) said she slammed on the brakes and tried to put the car in park but only got it into neutral,” according to court documents. “She said she tried to use her arm as leverage to fight back and then he reached over with his other hand and grabbed her throat. (She) said she could hear a crunching sound in her neck as he began to squeeze her neck.”

The victim lost consciousness and “went limp,” according to documents. When she came to, she told detectives she was “dazed” and the engine was revving because her foot was on the gas pedal as the car remained in neutral.

“She tried to drive but her legs just felt like dead weight. She couldn’t function her feet to drive the vehicle … and it took her a few minutes before she was able to function again to drive to the house,” court documents state.

The next day, the victim went to a doctor’s office in Rexburg, and medical personnel called the Madison County Sheriff’s Office after noticing obvious bruising on her hands and neck.

Kadrlik was later arrested and charged with one felony count of attempted strangulation and one felony count of injury to a child.

Kadrlik was arraigned in Madison County District Court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty. A no-contact order had been issued, but the victim asked Judge Greg Moeller to remove the order. He denied the request.

Kadrlik is scheduled to appear in court again in July.