Domestic assault victim calls retired MMA fighter 'a violent person'

STONEHAM, Mass. — Witnesses say they thought James Armato was going to kill his girlfriend when they saw him strangle her over the weekend.

FOX25 has learned Armato has done this kind of thing before.

Armato, a former MMA fighter from Stoneham, and is charged with attempted murder of his girlfriend Gina Antonelli.

Armato faced nearly identical charges three years ago, and FOX25's Bob Ward spoke exclusively with the victim in that case.

"He decided to strangle me, hit me, threw me to the ground and threw me against the wall," she said.

Armato pleaded guilty in 2014 to charges that he beat and strangled a woman back on Nov. 1, 2013.

She said she suspected he was being unfaithful. That's when she said she was attacked and she never saw it coming.

"I knew he had a temper. I knew he had a thing for fighting, since he was an MMA fighter," she said.

Early Sunday morning, Armato was charged with beating and choking Gina Antonelli as she drove the couple home after a night in Boston.

According to a police report obtained by FOX25 News, "James hit Gina with a fist. At some point James places his hand around Gina's neck and starts strangling her. Gina reported that she lost consciousness with James repeatedly hitting her on the face with his hands, demanding that she wake up and drive."

Gina crashed her car into a wall, but that didn't stop the attack.

Her family has been sharing pictures of her face after the beating to increase awareness of domestic violence and abuse victims.

Armato's previous girlfriend is shocked that after her attack three years ago, Armato was still free.

"I'm just disappointed that they allowed such a violent person back on the streets and he is doing it again," she said.

If you're a victim of domestic violence, or you know someone who is, you are not alone.

>>READ MORE: You can find more information for domestic violence victims here.

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