By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
A man who allegedly strangled his partner in 2025 pleaded guilty to multiple charges in Ellis County District Court on Monday, but will likely receive probation.
Cody Evan Garrett of Wakeeney was charged with three felonies: attempted first-degree murder, aggravated domestic battery, criminal threat, and two misdemeanors: domestic battery and criminal damage to property.
Per his plea agreement the attempted first-degree murder charge was amended to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and the criminal damage to property charge was dropped.
On July 17, 2025, Garrett drove his truck to an area of Hopewell Road in Ellis County. He allegedly told the victim he was going to kill her, threw her in a ditch, and said she would never see her kids again, according to court records.
The victim told authorities that Garrett threw her up against the truck hard enough to dent the truck, pulled her hair, held her down on the ground and strangled her, according to court records and testimony.
The victim told authorities Garrett strangled her to the point she saw bright lights and heard ringing in her ears.
Garrett allegedly released the victim when another couple approached the area in another vehicle. She ran toward that vehicle, and law enforcement was called.
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The sentencing range on the aggravated battery charge is 11 to 34 months in prison, 11-34 months for aggravated domestic battery, five to 17 months for criminal threat and a maximum of six months in the county jail for the misdemeanor domestic battery charge.
The three felonies could result in a maximum fine of $100,000 each, with the misdemeanor charge carrying up to a $500 fine.
However, Garrett’s defense has said he has no prior criminal record. If a presentence investigation concludes he does not have any prior convictions, he can be eligible for probation.
Per his plea agreement, Garrett has agreed to serve his probation out of state and have no contact with the victim as well as pay $14,400 in restitution.
Also during the hearing the defense asked that Garrett’s bond be reduced from $500,000 to $25,000, which was granted.
He was granted permission to leave the state to secure housing and employment. Instead of ankle monitoring, he will be required to use the RePath app, a smartphone-based supervision and compliance tracking platform.
Garrett’s sentencing has been set for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 19.