Famous Restaurateur Who Allegedly Shoved Towel Down Woman's Throat — Then Compared Himself to Trump — Gets Probation By Nicole Acosta

A famous Ohio restaurateur accused by prosecutors of shoving a towel down the throat of a woman he was dating, among other allegations, has been sentenced to five years of probation.

Robert “Bobby” George, 44, was handed down the sentence on Monday, Nov. 3 after pleading guilty to a fifth-degree felony count of attempted strangulation, according to reports from NBC affiliate WKYC, The Columbus Dispatch and ABC affiliate WEWS-TV.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charge days earlier.

George, who owns restaurants TownHall and Mandrake Rooftop in Columbus, Ohio, among other businesses, was initially charged with attempted murder, rape and kidnapping, the Dispatch reported, citing court records. The charges were related to multiple alleged domestic violence incidents against the 25-year-old victim in 2023 and 2024.

The victim, whom authorities said in court filings was dating George, claimed the man once held a gun at her after she left their home and on a separate occasion, raped her after she got out of the shower, WKYC reported.

She also alleged that George shoved a towel down her throat and asked, “You think God is going to help you?” while she prayed, per court documents cited by WKYC. However, the attempted strangulation charge is related to a June 2024 incident when George allegedly choked her multiple times and threw her around the home, Cleveland.com reported.

In a statement shared after his sentencing, George denied the allegations and compared himself to President Donald Trump, saying, “Trump was targeted by his political enemies who had prosecutorial power, and so was I. He was vindicated, and I will be, too,” per the outlet.

George also stated that his guilty plea was “not admitting to a crime but rather acknowledging taking a single step toward a crime” and that it “has no effect on my life or my freedom,” the Dispatch reported.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

“[George’s] conviction is a felony offense of violence and he will be labeled as a convicted felon for the rest of his life,” said Jefferson County prosecutor Jane Hanlin in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Wednesday, Nov. 5. “It was crucial to the victim and the State that Mr. George be held accountable for what he did and to put the world on notice about what kind of man he really is.”

In a statement shared by Hanlin on behalf of the victim, she said she now has “difficulty trusting anyone besides family,” according to WKYC.

“I’m triggered with reminders of the abuse I endured daily,” she wrote, in part, per the outlet. “I am terrified of the defendant, his lies and manipulation, and what he may do to me or someone I love in retaliation for speaking out. For my safety, I moved in with my parents. I find it difficult going anywhere alone or anywhere outside my house at all.”

In addition to probation, George was ordered to have no contact with the victim or her family for five years, according to the Dispatch. Per his sentencing guidelines, he will only serve time behind bars if he violates his probation, the outlet reported.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.