Clinton J. Johnson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
A Tulsa man has been sentenced to 56 months in federal prison after admitting to strangling his girlfriend. U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson announced that Donny Ray Spencer, 36, received the sentence for Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell also ordered three years of supervised release following Spencer’s imprisonment.
The incident occurred in July 2025 when Spencer, who was reportedly heavily intoxicated, fell and reopened stitches on his head. A relative called 911 for medical assistance, but court records indicate that Spencer became belligerent with responding medical personnel, prompting them to wait for police backup.
When officers arrived at the scene, they were met by Spencer’s girlfriend and their three-year-old child on the front porch. While speaking with her, Spencer approached the officers while yelling and making threats. Officers de-escalated the situation and continued questioning the girlfriend about visible bruising on her body. She told officers that earlier in the day she had argued with Spencer, who then strangled her and struck her with a broom in front of their child.
According to tribal court records, Spencer had an outstanding arrest warrant after failing to appear for a hearing related to previous charges of Domestic Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon and Felony Resisting Arrest from April. He was arrested on these outstanding tribal warrants at the scene.
While being transported to booking, "Spencer admitted to strangling his girlfriend," according to authorities.
Spencer is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody until he is transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn prosecuted the case.
