By Joe Johnson
An Athens grand jury has charged a man with aggravated assault for assaulting a former girlfriend outside of a hotel in Athens.
Holden Kyle Pregler was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and several other felonies in a 10-count indictment filed December 29 in Superior Court.
The indictment stems from Pregler’s arrest last October in the parking lot of Wingate Hotel on North Avenue where he had arranged to meet with 22-year-old Tanth Meeks, with whom he used to live in Gainesville.
An argument inside of the woman’s car turned physical when her dog was punched and kicked by Pregler after it became excited by the commotion.
Meeks had a finger dislocated during a struggle over a revoler, which Pregler used to hit the woman in the face.
The windshield of the victim’s Hyundai Santa Fe was damaged when Pregler smashed it.
Pregler was also charged with assaulting a 48-year-old woman from Augusta who was staying at the hotel and got involved with the incident.
While walking her dog, she saw the couple arguing and tried to get Pregler to leave Meeks alone, at which time he punched her in the face.
Pregler was arrested while attempting to run from police officers when they arrived at the scene.
Meeks was transported by ambulance to the hospital.
The indictment charges Pregler with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony theft, animal cruelty, criminal trespass/damage to property, obstruction of law enforcement, family violence battery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Pregler was denied bail by an Athens judge, and holds on his release were lodged with at the jail by authorities in Hall and and Forsyth counties where warrants for his arrest are on file.
Pregler is scheduled to be arraigned on January 28.
Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and support services by calling Project Safe's 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org