Jeweler charged in attack on woman

Prosecutors say a prominent Bellevue jeweler choked and tried to suffocate his girlfriend with a pillow, punched her in the face and threatened to kill her.

Mark Porcello, a 44-year-old Bellevue resident and second-generation owner of Porcello Jewelers in downtown Bellevue, was charged yesterday with felony harassment domestic violence and fourth-degree assault domestic violence in King County Superior Court, prosecutors' spokesman Dan Donohoe said.

Porcello was arrested Tuesday night after his girlfriend, 23, of two years fled from his house and called police, according to charging papers.

"She hid in the bushes (outside Porcello's house) until we got there," said Bellevue police spokeswoman Marcia Harnden.

Porcello apparently wouldn't let the woman leave his house, charging papers say. Just before 11 p.m., he pinned her down on the couch, held a pillow over her face and squeezed her neck with his hands, the papers say. He also punched her in the face several times and said he was going to kill her, charging papers say.

When police arrived, they found the woman bruised, scratched and swollen, with marks on her neck and a hoarse voice, charging papers say.

Porcello was booked into King County Jail early Wednesday but was released a day later after posting $250,000 bail, Donohoe said.

Yesterday, a judge ordered him to stay away from the woman and to surrender any guns he may have, Donohoe said. Porcello is expected to be arraigned June 24.

Sara Jean Green: 206-515-5654 or sgreen@seattletimes.com