Jackson City Councilman Andrew Frounfelker, 41, has been charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder by strangulation. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years if he's convicted.
Thursday he was in Jackson County District Court for his preliminary exam. He has entered a not guilty plea.
The victim, his girlfriend who will remain anonymous, took the stand first and talked about the results of her hospital visit. She said that she had x-rays taken and surgery performed including metal plates put in her head. She said she had five fractured bones, black eyes and a broken nose "from Andy hitting me."
Her friend, Kristin Willcut testified next. Willcut told the court that she saw physical damage to her friend's face weeks prior to this incident and then the night of, her friend began to text her about Frounfelker "acting crazy." She also received a picture of her friend's face that showed bruising and a black eye. The friend said she could hear the victim gasping for air, being choking and crying over the phone.
Willcut went straight to the home and after banging on the door was let in and took her friend to the hospital.
The victim added that the alleged abuse began outside the home with Frounfelker grabbing her hair, yelling at her, and pushing her into the apartment before he started to hit her. She says that he kept saying to her, "you're done."
"Evidence presented at the hearing showed that the victim suffered facial fractures, strangulation injuries, and a black eye," said Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred the night of May 22, 2018, in the city of Jackson. Police went to the hospital shortly before midnight on the 22nd after receiving a call about a 45-year-old female assault victim with injuries to her face.
Police arrested Frounfelker just before 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 23rd at his residence in the 100 block of W. Michigan Avenue. He was taken into custody without incident. Police said the alleged assault took place at his residence that he shares with his girlfriend.
According to the City of Jackson website Frounfelker has been a Fifth Ward City Council Member for the City of Jackson since being elected into office in November 2005. He had previously served as Vice Mayor from 2007-2009 and 2011-2013.
Frounfelker serves as a trustee of Ella Sharp Park and the City Retirement Pension Board. He's also a member of the City Local Development Finance Authority and City Parks and Recreation board and member of the Jackson County Economic Development Corporation and Land Bank Authority. The website also lists that he's employed by Consumers Energy as the Supervisor of Investment Recovery, but the company has suspended him with pay.
FOX 47's Alani Letang will have more from the courtroom on FOX 47 at 10 PM.
