WHEELING - A Steubenville man faces numerous felony charges after a woman went to police severely bruised after a sexual encounter, which she said was retaliation against her.
On Sept. 11, a woman approached the Wheeling Police Department to report that she had been sexually assaulted, with bruises clearly visible on her throat, arm, thighs and buttocks, according to police. She told police that Chandis Linkinogger, 41 of Steubenville, had assaulted her because he thought she went through his phone, which she denied.
The woman said that Linkinogger had made her call off work the week prior, and had attempted to force her to do so again. When she refused, she said he grabbed her by the throat and punched her in the arm, resulting in the bruise, police said. Later that week, on Sept. 11, Linkinogger allegedly threatened her during a brief meeting and gained access into her house, forcing her upstairs and sexually assaulting her, beating her if she broke eye contact or resisted, police said.
Linkinogger was taken into custody and spoke to police without an attorney present. Police said Linkinogger's description of events was identical to the woman's, but he said the sexual encounter was consensual, and that they enjoyed "rough sex," in his words.
Due to the severity of the woman's injuries and her statement that it had not been consensual, Linkinogger was charged with strangulation, second-degree sexual assault and third offense domestic battery. He was previously convicted of two counts of domestic assault in March 2019.
Linkinogger remains lodged at the Northern Regional Jail in lieu of $600,000 bond. His preliminary hearing before magistrate Patricia Murphy is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday.