Former lawmaker facing domestic violence charges again

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(AP) – A former Delaware lawmaker has been arrested on charges of strangulation and assault following a domestic dispute.

Court records show that 48-year-old John Atkins of Millsboro was arrested last week and charged with strangulation, a felony, and third-degree assault, which is a misdemeanor. He was given a $7,000 unsecured bond.

A preliminary hearing for Atkins that had been scheduled for Thursday was continued to a later date.

Atkins did not immediately return telephone messages Thursday.

In 2016, Atkins was charged with offensive touching and criminal mischief after a domestic dispute with a woman.

Those charges were dropped after a prosecutor determined there was insufficient evidence to move forward.