The charge comes more than a year after George was originally arrested on a slew of serious felony counts, including attempted murder, rape, and multiple counts of kidnapping and strangulation.
According to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court records, George was “indicted by information” on a fifth-degree felony charge of attempted strangulation. This procedural step means George waived his right to have the case heard by a grand jury, allowing prosecutors to charge him directly.
J. Hanlin, the special prosecutor appointed to the case to avoid a conflict of interest with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office, stated that George is expected to enter a guilty plea to the single felony charge.
George’s attorney, Kevin Spellacy, has not issued a new public statement on the expected plea, though he previously told a local news outlet, “We reached an agreement on one felony of the fifth degree after he was grossly overcharged by the City of Cleveland.”
The fifth-degree felony charge of attempted strangulation carries a potential sentence ranging from probation up to a year in prison under Ohio law.
George, 43, who owns multiple businesses in Northeast Ohio, including the popular TownHall and Harry Buffalo restaurants, was originally accused of committing multiple acts of domestic violence against a woman between November 2023 and July 2024. Allegations in the initial police report included strangulation, striking the victim’s head against a table, and other forms of abuse.
George’s arraignment is currently set for Thursday, October 31, at 8:30 a.m. in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, where he is expected to formalize his plea. George has been free on a $200,000 bond since his initial arrest in August 2024.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates following the scheduled court appearance.