BARRE — A Granite City man is facing a charge of strangling a woman and slamming her to the ground.

Devin W. Lynch, 24, pleaded not guilty to felony aggravated domestic assault in Washington County criminal court Monday. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

According to the police affidavit, Lynch got upset with the woman Wednesday, grabbed her by the throat and “body slammed” her to the ground, sending her to the hospital.

The woman told police Lynch grabbed her throat so hard that she could not breathe and also had injuries to her right leg and foot. She said Lynch had strangled her in the past to the point where she was in fear for her life.

A police officer said he saw bruises on her right thigh and foot, which the woman said were from the altercation. Police said Lynch had fled from the scene before their arrival.