Sonora, California – Friday afternoon a jury convicted Tuolumne County resident Gregory Dean High, 30 of two counts of felony domestic violence causing great bodily injury and two counts of false imprisonment by violence or menace. According to Assistant District Attorney Eric Hovatter, who tried the case, the incident occurred during the evening of February 13, 2019 when High showed up at a house in the city of Sonora to confront his estranged wife Tiffany Hurst. During a verbal argument the defendant confined Ms. Hurst in a bathroom and pushed her into a bathtub causing her to strike her head on a metal down spout. She was eventually able to escape the bathroom with the assistance of the homeowner and went into the street where the defendant again strangled her and threw her to the ground causing her to strike her head a second time. From there the defendant pursued Ms. Hurst down the street as she tried to escape, and neighbors testified to seeing him struggle with her and attempting to intervene, only to have High act aggressively and belligerently towards them. Eventually Ms. Hurst fled downtown to a local business where High forced her to take refuge inside where she was able to contact a friend to drive her away. She reported the crimes the next day to the Sonora Police Department and the officer observed injuries to her arms, neck and head. She subsequently went to Adventist Health where an emergency room doctor diagnosed her with a concussion. High was previously convicted in two domestic violence cases of attacks on Ms. Hurst in 2015 and 2106. The jury heard about those prior acts as well as other acts of violence that were uncharged. High was previously convicted of a strike offense in 2016. Mr. Hovatter indicated that High faces over 20 years in state prison. He will be sentenced by the Honorable Judge Kevin Seibert next month.
