Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Oconee County Man on Multiple Charges in Relation to Domestic Violence Investigation

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Oconee County man on multiple charges Thursday in relation to a domestic violence investigation.

29 year old James Joseph Ungaro, Jr. was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 3:10 pm Thursday. Ungaro, Jr. was taken into custody after a traffic stop yesterday on Jennings Avenue in Seneca, which is near the Miracle Circle intersection.
Ungaro, Jr. has been charged with one count each of Attempted Murder, Kidnapping, Possession of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime and Malicious Injury to Personal Property.

During a bond hearing, bond was denied on the charges of Attempted Murder and Kidnapping and Ungaro, Jr. will appear before a Circuit Court Judge at a later time regarding bond on those charges. Ungaro, Jr. was given a combined $12,000 surety bond on the Possession of a Weapon and Malicious Injury charges.

Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Division responded to an address on Starling Drive, which is near Highway 11 in West Union, Wednesday afternoon in regards to reports of a domestic disturbance. When a deputy arrived on scene, they located the female victim. A deputy observed a physical manifestation of injuries on the victim.

During the course of the investigation, the victim told the deputy that she had been assaulted by the suspect, identified as Ungaro, Jr. Ungaro, Jr. also made threats against the life of the victim. Deputies also learned that Ungaro, Jr. had broken two phones, left the incident location with the phones and had flattened the victim’s car tire in order to prevent the victim from calling for help or leaving the residence where the assault occurred.

Ungaro, Jr. was not on scene when deputies arrived. According to information obtained during the investigation, Ungaro, Jr. had also made threats against law enforcement. According to arrest warrants, Ungaro, Jr. had assaulted the victim multiple times throughout the
day and made verbal threats to kill the victim while possessing a handgun.

At this time, Ungaro, Jr. remains in custody at the Oconee County Detention Center.