People v. Seremak CA4/2

FACTS

Seremak and his wife began dating and moved in together in 2015, and they

married in 2016. According to Seremak’s wife, his behavior towards her became

increasingly manipulative and abusive over time. In May 2019, she sought and obtained

a temporary restraining order against him, and in June 2019 she was granted a permanent

restraining order. As of June 2023, when Seremak’s trial was held, they had a six-year-

old daughter together and divorce proceedings were pending.

According to the prosecution, Seremak’s abusive behavior included several

criminal offenses. Seremak was charged with a total of five counts, each listing his wife

as the victim, including one count of inflicting corporal injury resulting in a traumatic 1 condition (Pen. Code , § 273.5, subd. (a), count 1), two counts of making a criminal

threat (§ 422, counts 2 and 3), and two misdemeanor counts of violating a restraining

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

2 2 order (§ 273.6, subd. (a), counts 4 and 5). We will discuss each of these charges

separately, in chronological order.

Count 3: On May 16, 2018, Seremak and his wife argued. His wife testified he

told her he was…