League City Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Strangulation Assault

A Galveston County jury sentenced 47-year-old Gary Dean Crawford to life in prison on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, for assault by impeding breath or circulation with a previous domestic violence conviction.

On September 30, 2023, League City police responded to a welfare check at a residence, where they were met by an adult woman with visible injuries, including facial bruises, a wound on her temple, and scratches on her neck. The woman handed officers a handgun before running to a patrol car and hiding.

Crawford, who was not present when officers arrived, was arrested upon his return. Investigators later found several areas in the home covered in blood.

During the trial, which began Monday, Assistant District Attorney Quinten McConico presented testimony from responding officers, who described the victim’s distress and her attempt to conceal herself in the backseat of a patrol car until she could be transported to a hospital. The victim testified that the attack began days earlier during an argument when Crawford struck her multiple times, knocked her down, and strangled her. She told the jury, “I thought I was going to die.”

Photographic evidence showed multiple bite marks Crawford had inflicted on the victim. She also testified that, while struggling to free herself, she bit off the tip of Crawford’s finger.

The jury heard that after the initial assault, neighbors called police, but the victim remained silent out of fear. Officers were unable to investigate further when Crawford did not answer the door. Over the following days, Crawford controlled the victim’s phone calls and accompanied her to work to monitor her movements.

On the day of Crawford’s arrest, he had left to go to the store, allowing the victim to call her apartment’s leasing office for help. This led to the welfare check by League City police. The victim later testified that before officers arrived, she had retrieved her firearm and was prepared to shoot Crawford upon his return.

Prosecutors also presented evidence of Crawford’s 2018 felony conviction in Harris County for strangulation assault involving a different woman.

On Tuesday, after approximately one hour of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict. During sentencing, McConico introduced additional evidence of Crawford’s 20-year criminal history, including robbery, domestic violence convictions in other states, and criminal sexual assault of a minor.

The jury sentenced Crawford to life in prison, the maximum penalty allowed by law.

The Galveston County Criminal District Attorney’s Office commended the League City Police Department for their work on the case. Assistant District Attorney Joseph Bayer assisted in the trial.