BONNERS FERRY — A preliminary hearing has been set in a case where a local man has been accused of domestic battery.  

John Frederick Eastaugh, 45, has been charged with one count of strangulation, one count of domestic battery and one count of intentional destruction of a telecommunication line.  

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for March 6. Charges were filed on Jan. 20, 2026. The incidents are alleged to have occurred between Dec. 31, 2025 and Jan. 12, 2026. Eastaugh posted a $25,000 bond on Feb. 4 and is not currently in custody. 

According to court documents, after a confrontation between Eastaugh and a woman, he allegedly threw the woman’s food off the counter, before putting his forearm on her throat, pinning it to the counter and grabbing her throat. 

According to court documents, the woman alleged she had difficulties breathing as a result. During the incident, court documents allege that a child was sleeping nearby.  

Eastaugh also allegedly turned off the internet on Jan. 12 to stop the woman from calling for help and threw her phone at a wall.    

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Eastaugh allegedly left bruises on the woman’s arms, face, leg and back of head during a previous altercation. Documents allege the prior altercation also involved the child.  

According to court documents, during a prior incident Eastaugh allegedly grabbed the women’s face and banged her head on the floor, before grabbing her legs and dragging her outside of the residence on Dec. 31, 2025. Eastaugh then allegedly grabbed snow, smothered it in her face and slammed her head on the ground. 

After examination on Jan. 12, the officer said that the woman had several old bruises on her right arm and right leg.  

A no-contact order has been granted in the case.