Hunter
01/09/21
An Iowa City man has been arrested after an alleged New Year’s Eve assault and threats to share nude pictures of a woman on the internet.
According to the victim, 36-year-old Bryant Welch of Highway 1 West was at her East Zeller Street apartment in North Liberty on New Year’s Eve. Welch reportedly punched her in the eye and then choked her with both hands until she fell backwards on the ground. She said she had to fight back to get him off of her neck.
The woman also stated that when she tried to leave the altercation, Welch grabbed her hair and pulled her back into the apartment. She told officers that each time she tried to leave, Welch prevented her from doing so. She suffered a large bruise from around her eye from when he punched her.
The victim also informed police that Welch had been using nude photos of her to keep her trapped into doing what he told her to do. The photos were taken without permission while she was sleeping, and he allegedly told her that if she didn’t do what he said, Welch would put the photos on the internet for her kids to see. She also said that because she didn’t spend the holidays with Welch like he wanted, he sent the photos to the woman’s friend. Police say the friend confirmed her account.
The woman said that she had proof that Welch was extorting her on her phone until he assaulted her and deleted everything on the device. The two have lived together within the past year.
A warrant was issued for Welch’s arrest. He was taken into custody Friday night, and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, 3rd or subsequent, after being convicted in Illinois in 2004, Indiana in 2016 and in Johnson County in 2019. He’s also been charged with Extortion, Invasion of Privacy, 1st degree Harassment, and False Imprisonment. If convicted on all charges, Welch could be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison.
A no-contact order was requested between Welch and the alleged victim.