Fresno Man Arrested on Felony Charges for Allegedly Beating, Strangling Ex-Girlfriend
FRESNO, CA — “On September 4, 2026, at approximately 11:02 pm, officers assigned to the Southeast Policing Districts were dispatched to a location near East Jensen Avenue and South Fowler Avenue regarding a check-the-welfare call of a female crying in a parking lot. Responding officers contacted the confidential victim, who told officers that earlier that evening, she met with her ex-boyfriend, 37-year-old Jesus Antonio Leyva, to talk about their prior relationship.
During their meet-up, suspect Leyva asked the victim for a ride. The victim told Leyva that she could not drive because she had been drinking. Leyva drove the victim’s vehicle towards a friend’s house, where he intended to be dropped off at. During the ride, Leyva told the victim that he did not want to go directly to his friend’s house and instead drove to the area of East Jensen Avenue and South Fowler Avenue in a nearby parking lot. The victim exited the vehicle and attempted to walk away and call someone for a ride. Suspect Leyva became angry and punched the victim in the face and forcibly took the victim’s cell phone from her hands. Suspect Leyva then grabbed the victim’s arm and dragged her back towards the vehicle as the victim yelled for him to let her go. During the struggle, Leyva placed his hands around the victim’s neck and strangled her for approximately 20-25 seconds. Leyva then punched and kicked the victim in the face and forced her back into the vehicle. Leyva moved the victim to the passenger seat and told her to be quiet.
While Leyva searched for the car keys, the victim locked the doors and began honking the horn and flashing the headlights. Leyva attempted to re-enter the vehicle, but was unsuccessful and he fled on foot. The victim remained inside the vehicle for approximately 20 minutes, attempting to get someone’s attention. A reporting party drove by, noticed the victim, and called the police. The victim sustained multiple injuries to her face, bruising to her neck, a chipped tooth, and lacerations to both of her arms. During the investigation, officers also found out there were prior unreported domestic violence incidents where Leyva threatened to harm the victim if she left him. Officers also found out that after they broke up, Suspect Leyva has appeared at the victim’s place of employment unannounced several times.
On September 5, 2026, at approximately 01:46 am, officers were able to obtain Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) notifications of the suspect’s possible location within the Southeast Policing District. Officers located suspect Leyva in his vehicle at a business near South Clovis Avenue and Est Inyo Avenue. Leyva was arrested without incident and booked for charges related to this investigation, including felony domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon, stalking, and felony DUI. Leyva was booked into the Fresno County Jail.”
