Turlock man convicted for punching girlfriend

A 24-year-old Turlock man has been sentenced to five years in prison for beating his girlfriend as relatives tried to stop him.

Devin Marque Cole on Jan. 25 was convicted of two counts of felony domestic violence and a misdemeanor vandalism charge, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced earlier this week. Deputy District Attorney Elaine Casillas prosecuted the case.

On Oct. 24, Cole was arguing with his live-in girlfriend and started hitting and punching her multiple times as the relatives tried to pull him away from her, according to prosecutors. Four days later, Cole attacked his girlfriend again hitting and throwing her to the ground, the prosecutors said.

Cole later turned himself in to Turlock police, claiming he acted in self-defense against his girlfriend’s aggression. The defendant had prior felony conviction and served time in prison in 2010 for assault with a firearm.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 2:47 PM with the headline "Turlock man convicted for punching girlfriend."