Belleville man accused of trying to strangle girlfriend at Gateway Arch
A Belleville man was indicted Thursday in the U.S. Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on three felony counts related to an attempted strangulation outside the Gateway Arch on April 28.
Darrion Evans, 20, is alleged to have tried to strangle his girlfriend on federal property, according to court documents. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday and is currently being represented by a public defender.
Evans allegedly drove the woman from Belleville to the Arch without her knowledge or consent and then hit and strangled her on park grounds, the federal indictment said. His car was found by National Park Rangers parked on a service road after the incident, according to a release from the federal court.
Evans is facing one count of assault by strangulation and two counts of interstate domestic violence. Court documents say he is currently being detained before his next court appearance, which is scheduled for July 28.
According to the release, Evans is facing up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
Last month, a Fairview Heights man pleaded guilty in the federal court of Eastern Missouri for sexually assaulting a woman on the Arch grounds in 2023. Monte Derrell Boatman, 37, is facing life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
