Sonora, CA…Just before 1:00 am this morning, we received a 911 call from the female victim stating she was just assaulted. Within minutes, officers arrived on scene to the hotel located on the 400 block of Stockton Road. During the investigation, officers learned that 50-year-old Jeffrey K. Howard of Covington, Georgia, was responsible for several violent acts against the victim with whom he is associated with.

It is alleged that during a disagreement, Howard tried to suffocate the victim once by wrapping a plastic bag over her head, and again by holding her down while pushing a pillow into her face. Additionally, Howard reportedly punched the victim in the mouth during his violent assault.

Howard was taken into custody at the scene and booked at the Tuolumne County Jail for attempted murder.