Charlottesville private equity boss pleads guilty to domestic battery [Video]

A Charlottesville private equity boss has pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of domestic assault and battery. 

In a deal that dropped a more serious charge of strangulation, 57-year-old Thomas Allen Carver was convicted in Albemarle County court Monday. Carver, who founded Harren Equity Partners, stood accused of attacking his girlfriend after a night out nearly six months ago, first in his car and later at his Ivy-area residence.

“Alcohol was involved,” said Assistant Albemarle Commonwealth’s Attorney Holly Vradenburgh. 

In Albemarle County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Vradenburgh summarized the evidence that led to Monday’s conviction, including allegations that on their drive back to Carver’s house from dinner on Charlottesville’s West Main Street, he struck his live-in girlfriend Nathalie Grace Marcano, pulled her hair and tossed her phone out the car window.

The beating continued at Carver’s home, Vradenburgh said, with punches and a torn blouse.

Vradenburgh said her office …