Arlington Man Sentenced For Choking, Punching Girlfriend

ARLINGTON, VA — An Arlington man was recently sentenced to nine years in prison after he was convicted of choking, punching and biting his girlfriend.

Evan Omar Larsen, 23, was sentenced in Loudoun County Circuit Court after he pleaded guilty to one count of abduction, one count of unlawful wounding and one count of strangulation, the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office announced.

According to prosecutors, Larsen and his girlfriend had been in a relationship for approximately a year when they were housesitting for her parents at their Sterling home in the spring of 2024. While they were there, prosecutors said Larsen became enraged with the victim and pushed her onto the bed by her neck and started to strangle her.

Prosecutors said he also repeatedly punched her “like a boxer.” He then bit the victim and continued to strike her body with his hands and fists before throwing her into a wall.

Afterwards, prosecutors said Larsen told his girlfriend that she needed to take a shower to clean up and pulled her into the adjoining bathroom, commanding her to take off her clothes. She complied and stepped into the shower, where Larsen turned on the cold water and held the nozzle over her head. He then took the shower head and held it so that the water flowed directly into her mouth.

Prosecutors said Larsen also grabbed the knife while she was in the shower and traced the blade down her body.

Eventually, the victim was able to escape the home and call 911 before running to a neighbor's house for help. Prosecutors said Larsen followed her, grabbed her in a chokehold and pulled her to the ground as the neighbor opened the door.

Following Larsen's arrest, authorities learned he began abusing the victim in the summer of 2023 in Richmond and relayed that information to the appropriate authorities. The charges relating to the incidents in Richmond were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

According to prosecutors, Larsen abused the victim while on probation for another domestic violence conviction connected to a different partner. He was sentenced to serve three years with all of it suspended.

On May 9, the Arlington County Circuit Court revoked Larsen’s probation and sentenced him to serve the full three years in prison. In all, Larsen will spend the next 12 years in prison.

During the sentencing hearing in the Loudoun County Circuit, the victim testified to the impact on her life, stating, “What he did that night changed me forever … I continually work on rebuilding my life.” The victim’s father also testified, “As a father, how am I supposed to feel … we treated Evan like a son.”

Before he pronounced Larsen’s sentence, Judge James Plowman called Larsen's history "troubling."

"It’s a concerning pattern against women that’s escalating," Plowman said. "In short, I think you are a dangerous person. Dangerous to women, dangerous to young girls.”

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