Levi James Hillestad, 36, Minot, is accused of hitting a woman in the head, trying to strangle her with a belt, and breaking her cell phone and his own phone when she tried to call 911 on Monday.

Hillestad is charged in district court in Minot with Class C felony aggravated assault – domestic violence and Class C felony interference with a 911 call.

Judge Richard Hagar set bond at $5,000 cash or corporate surety Tuesday and ordered Hillestad to have no contact with the alleged victim.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Hillestad and the woman had been arguing over a pack of cigarettes. Hillestad allegedly told police that the woman had “gone crazy” and started hitting him with the belt and he claimed she had hit herself in the face previously, but acknowledged she had not hit herself in the face on Monday.

Police noted that the woman had blood on her face, marks on her neck and scratches on her hands, arms and legs.

The woman told police that she did not lose consciousness when Hillestad was strangling her because she bit down on the belt. She told police she wasn’t afraid for her life because this wasn’t the first time Hillestad had strangled her. She told police she bit Hillestad on the arm to try to make him let her go.

When she saw she was bleeding, she said she was calling the police and Hillestad threw her phone against the wall and tried to break his own phone.