Harold Beasley, a 40-year-old resident of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to 40 years in prison on December 5, 2023, after being found guilty of Assault Family Violence Impeding Breath with Previous Convictions, Continuous Violence Against the Family, and Witness Tampering, according to Ellis County and District Attorney Ann Montgomery.
The charges stem from a series of incidents that occurred between February 2021 and February 2022, during which Beasley frequently assaulted his girlfriend, instilling fear for her life by employing physical violence, including beatings and strangulation.
While in jail awaiting trial, Beasley reportedly made repeated calls to the complainant, attempting to coerce and influence her not to cooperate with law enforcement, resulting in a charge of Witness Tampering.
All three cases carried a punishment range of 25-99 years or life in prison, with a fine of up to $10,000, due to Beasley's prior felony convictions. Eligible for parole after 20 years on the Assault Family Violence and Continuous Violence Against the Family charges, Beasley faces a lengthy sentence.
Law enforcement officials, including Ellis County and District Attorney investigators, uncovered the coercive calls by monitoring Beasley's jail phone conversations. Subsequently, criminal charges for witness tampering were filed by the district attorney's office.
The Ellis County Sheriff's Office, responsible for overseeing jail operations, maintains the authority to take appropriate action, including filing additional criminal charges, in instances where inmates abuse their phone privileges. Both the district attorney's office and the sheriff's office actively monitor inmate phone calls as a precautionary measure to protect victims and witnesses.
Assistant County and District Attorney Ashley Indelicato led the prosecution, with support from County and District Attorney Investigator Joseph Aguilar.
