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WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Washington man has pleaded guilty to strangling his romantic partner during a violent argument sparked by a missing cell phone, federal prosecutors announced Friday.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Marcus Hazel, 32, admitted in Superior Court to strangling his partner, Sandy Watts, inside her apartment on New York Avenue NE on November 28, 2025. Prosecutors said Hazel became enraged after losing his phone and refused Watts’ offer to let him use hers, demanding instead that she buy him a new one.

During the confrontation, Hazel reportedly cursed at Watts and ignored her repeated requests to leave. He then placed his hands around her neck, applying pressure until she was unable to breathe, before slamming her to the floor and continuing to choke her until she nearly lost consciousness. Hazel fled on foot but was arrested the following day by the Metropolitan Police Department.

Hazel pleaded guilty to a single count of strangulation and was released by a Superior Court judge pending sentencing, despite objections from prosecutors. His sentencing is scheduled for March 20, 2026.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced the plea, joined by Interim Police Chief Jeffrey W. Carroll, and credited the Metropolitan Police Department with leading the investigation.

A Washington man admitted to strangling his girlfriend during an argument over a lost phone and awaits sentencing in March.

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