Tulsa Man Sentenced for Admittedly Strangling Girlfriend

TULSA, Okla. - A Tulsa man was sentenced today after admitting to strangling his girlfriend, announced U.S. Attorney
Clint Johnson.

Donny Ray Spencer, 36, was sentenced for Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in
Indian Country. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell ordered Spencer to serve 56 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

In July 2025, Spencer was heavily intoxicated and fell, reopening stitches on his head. A relative called 911 to request medical assistance. Court records show that Spencer became belligerent with medical personnel, and they had to leave until police arrived to assist. When officers arrived, Spencer's girlfriend met officers on the front porch with their three-year-old. While officers spoke with the girlfriend, Spencer approached officers while yelling and making threats. Officers de-escalated Spencer and continued speaking with the girlfriend. When officers questioned her about the visible bruising on her body, she disclosed that Spencer was very intoxicated, and they argued earlier in the day. During that argument, Spencer strangled her and struck her with a broom in the presence of their child.

Tribal court dockets show that Spencer had a pending arrest warrant after failing to appear for a hearing. He was on
bond after being charged in April with Domestic Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon and Felony Resisting Arrest.
Officers arrested Spencer on his outstanding tribal warrants. While being transported to booking, Spencer admitted to strangling his girlfriend.

Spencer is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn prosecuted the case.