MT AIRY MAN TO SERVE 44 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT, VIOLATION OF PROBATION
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 29, 2025
MT AIRY MAN TO SERVE 44 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT, VIOLATION OF PROBATION
FREDERICK, MD – Yesterday, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Terrance McGann sentenced 42-year old, Gary Michael Gouge to an aggregate sentence of 44 years in the Division of Corrections for First Degree Assault and a Violation of Probation for a previous First Degree Assault. He was found guilty following a jury trial on July 31, 2025. The State had requested a sentence of 54 years.
On January 16, 2025, a Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the address of 4504 Buffalo Road for a domestic in progress. The caller told 911 that her sister was at the location and was possibly being assaulted by her boyfriend, Gary Gouge. Upon arrival, the Deputy could hear the female screaming inside the residence. Once inside, the Deputy observed the female hysterically crying, shaking and saying that the Defendant, whom she had been dating for a few weeks, picked her up at her home in earlier that day, and brought her to his house to discuss relationship issues. The Defendant became very angry, cursing at her, grabbing her and threatening her. The Defendant then slammed the Victim into a wall. He strangled her and pulled a knife out of his pocket and threatened to kill her and her children. The Defendant told police he was terrified to see them because he was recently released from prison for a previous domestic assault and was released in May 2023. He then attempted to blame the Victim and he changed his story several times.
In 2017, the Defendant strangled another girlfriend, held a gun to her head and threatened to kill her after accusing her of cheating. In 2013, he assaulted his prior wife, after accusing her of cheating. He had been released early over the State’s objection in 2023.
The Victim from the most recent case addressed the Court in her Victim Impact Statement saying, “The day I almost lost my life is the only date I now remember. On that day, the Defendant took my breath; today with my breath, I get to tell him, I am taking my life back.”
State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated, “Abusers who strangle are telling the victim that they can kill them. Strangulation increases the likelihood of future homicide. Abusers who violate their probation by abusing a partner again are the worst of the worst. This Offender had two prior victims, and with this sentence, he will be appropriately behind bars–unable to hurt another woman for a very long time.”
Chief Domestic Violence Unit Brett Engler represented the State of Maryland.
Press Contact:
Jacqueline Rottmann
Court Media Relations Officer
301-600-2972
100 West Patrick Street
Frederick, Maryland 21701
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