By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — A Mooresville High School teacher posted bond Thursday after authorities charged him with strangling his ex-girlfriend.
According to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, 38-year-old Jonathan Bost choked Jennifer Donaldson when she went to retrieve her cellphone from his house Wednesday afternoon.
Bost is a science teacher at Mooresville High School and was previously a teacher at Salisbury High School.
The report said Donaldson told authorities Bost started choking her when she attempted to pull the phone from his pocket.
“They began to wrestle,” the report said, and Bost “put his hands around her neck and began to choke her.”
Authorities reported that Donaldson got free from Bost and ran outside to her vehicle. Bost followed Donaldson and began choking her again as she sat in the vehicle, the report said.
Donaldson, of Salisbury, told authorities that Bost said, “she could come inside peacefully or he would keep doing this,” the report said.
She went with Bost inside the 358 Maple Ridge Circle home, the report said, but then ran into a bathroom and locked the door.
Donaldson called 911 and a friend to come get her from the bathroom.
Deputies said Bost was still at the house when they arrived.
Authorities said 34-year-old Donaldson had scratches on her neck.
Bost, who gave his address as 525 West Kirk St., China Grove, was arrested at the home. He was charged with felony assault by strangulation.
Bost was released after posting a $6,500 bond on Thursday.
Bost has been a teacher at Mooresville High since February, according to school district records. Before that, he was a science teacher at Salisbury High and was the adviser to the school’s quiz bowl team.
Tanae McLean, Mooresville Graded School District’s public information officer, said Bost was not at school Thursday.
“We just found out this afternoon,” she said of the charges.
McLean said Bost’s status with the school system “will be evaluated.”
He will be in court again Nov. 30.
Contact Nathan Hardin at 704-797-4246.