Robert “Bobby” George (Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department).
A prominent Ohio businessman and restaurateur allegedly told a woman he was dating “you think God is going to help you?” as she prayed she wouldn’t die during a brutal attack he was unleashing upon her.
Robert “Bobby” George, 44, of Lakewood, was forcing a towel down the 25-year-old victim’s throat and biting her on the nose, as well as spitting in her face, during the vicious June 2024 assault, according to Cuyahoga County prosecutors.
George, who owns TownHall restaurant and the Barley House in Cleveland, among other local businesses, plans to plead guilty to a charge of attempted strangulation that will allow him to skip grand jury proceedings, Cleveland.com reports.
He intends to admit that he attacked the woman during an argument and choked her multiple times over several hours, according to police and court records obtained by the local media outlet. He also allegedly picked the victim up and threw her around a house they shared, while also refusing to let her leave.
“[George] did knowingly attempt to cause or create a substantial risk of physical harm to Jane Doe by means of strangulation,” George’s indictment says. “Jane Doe is … a person with whom Robert T. George is or was in a dating relationship.”
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George was initially charged with a number of felonies, including attempted murder and rape, for allegedly attacking the woman numerous times over several months, according to Cleveland.com. Prosecutors said they and members of the DA’s office met with the victim and worked out a plea deal for George, with the parties spending “a lot of time” together.
“I can’t tell you how much respect I have for this young woman and everything that she has gone through,” said Jefferson County prosecutor Jane Hanlin, who was forced to take over the case from Cuyahoga County prosecutor Michael O’Malley due to O’Malley recusing himself for donating to George’s business campaigns in the past.
“I wanted to do something that was in line with how the victim wanted the case to resolve, and I wanted to do something that would protect the victim as well, because cases involving violence between partners can be very, very difficult for the victims to go through,” Hanlin told Cleveland.com about the plea deal.
George’s girlfriend was allegedly hiding in a closet and praying when he asked her if she thought “God” was going to help her. He was accused of sexually assaulting and attacking her multiple times between November 2023 and July 2024.
As a result of his arrest, the disgraced restaurateur reportedly lost $3.5 million in funding from the Ohio Senate to support plans George had to construct a $35 million eatery and entertainment complex near the Cuyahoga River.
He is currently out on bond while prosecutors await the announcement of his plea deal.
