DA Warren Montgomery reports that last week, after a 20-minute deliberation, a St. Tammany Parish jury unanimously found 37 YO John Richard Oalmann of Madisonville guilty as charged of domestic abuse battery committed in the presence of a child.
District Judge Richard Swartz presided over the trial.
In February of 2021, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic disturbance. The victim and the defendant had argued over whether to continue watching a movie. During the argument, the defendant followed the victim into the kitchen and hit a plate of food out of her hands. The victim went into the bedroom to get away, but the defendant followed her. As she was packing clothes to leave, the defendant grabbed a dresser drawer and threw it at her. He then slapped her in the face and put her in a choke hold. During the altercation, the victim’s 3-year-old child was present. The defendant’s mother called the police and he fled. A number of the defendant’s family members were present in the home and gave statements to police. The victim had various markings on her body consistent with having been assaulted.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on October 20, 2023.
The defendant has four prior felony convictions, including a 2013 negligent homicide.
Assistant District Attorneys Zachary Popovich and Gabrielle Hosli prosecuted the case.
