TownHall owner Bobby George faces attempted strangulation charge

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Robert “Bobby” George, the owner of Townhall and Mandrake in the Short North, is now facing an attempted strangulation charge, which his attorney said is part of an agreement.

On Monday, George, 44, was charged with attempted strangulation in a bill of information, according to Cuyahoga County court records. A bill of information is formal criminal charge filed by a prosecutor, rather than a grand jury.

George initially faced nine felony counts, including attempted murder, rape and kidnapping. George's attorney, Kevin Spellacy, told NBC4's sister station WJW that George is now only facing the single strangulation charge.

“The City of Cleveland had originally charged him with kidnapping, rape, attempted murder, and after 14 months, he now faces a single count of a felony of the fifth degree," Spellacy said. "We reached an agreement on one felony of the fifth degree after he was grossly overcharged by the City of Cleveland."

A fifth-degree felony, the lowest level felony in Ohio, has a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

George was arrested in August 2024, for crimes allegedly committed between November 2023 and July 2024. A woman accused George of domestic violence, including instances where the victim said he would pull her hair and kick her to stop her from leaving. At one point, the woman said she was hospitalized after George assaulted her. 

Additionally, the victim accused George of holding a firearm to her stomach, telling her it was loaded and forcing her back into an apartment. She alleged he also put tracking devices on her phone and car.

He pleaded not guilty to those charges on Aug. 13, 2024, and posted a $200,000 bond a short time later. 

George’s arraignment, or court appearance during which he will be formally informed of the new charge against him and required to enter a plea, is set for Friday at 8:30 a.m., court records say.