Culotta pleads guilty to strangling romantic partner
- ivywola
- 4 hours ago
- 1 min read
A Shreveport man who strangled a domestic partner in April 2025 pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court Wednesday, February 4, 2026, and was sentenced to the maximum prison term allowed by law, three years.
James Culotta, 56, pleaded guilty-as-charged to the charge of domestic abuse with strangulation before District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr., who sentenced Culotta.
On April 8, 2025, Culotta attacked his longtime domestic partner, during which he strangled her. He was arrested about a week later. However, throughout the course of the case the victim refused to cooperate with the District Attorney’s office in the prosecution. Culotta contacted his victim several times from jail encouraging her to not cooperate, in one conversation suggesting she lie in court, in the belief this would prevent prosecution. Culotta filed a speedy trial motion in an attempt to secure his release from jail.
However, District Attorney James Stewart reassigned the case to his Special Victims Unit. At a hearing January 30, the DA’s office set the case for trial on February 23 and informed defendant Culotta the case would proceed with or without the victim's cooperation.
Culotta was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher S. Bowman, a member of the DA's Special Victims Unit. Hilary Hileman defended Culotta.
The case was docket No. 408045.
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