The son of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon admitted in Manhattan court Tuesday that he choked a woman he was having sex with — as he copped a plea deal to dodge jail time.
Abraham Chabon, a 23-year-old journalism student at NYU, pleaded guilty to criminal obstruction of breathing and harassment in the second degree in front of Judge Janice E. Chen at a brief appearance in criminal court.
Chabon told the judge he obstructed the breathing of the woman by applying pressure to her neck to deprive her of oxygen during their Jan. 25, 2024, tryst in an apartment on East 12th Street.
The defendant called it “consensual choking during a consensual sexual encounter.”
Chabon was initially charged June 12, 2025, with first-degree rape and second-degree strangulation after prosecutors said he choked and beat the woman while molesting her inside an apartment.
Prosecutors had claimed that Chabon grabbed the woman’s neck and struck her “repeatedly in the face” — but the rape charge was tossed in September 2025 because of what the district attorney’s office called insufficient evidence.
In March, prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining top charge — second-degree strangulation, a felony — before Chabon ultimately accepted a misdemeanor rap.
Under the terms of the plea deal, Chabon must remain arrest-free and continue with counseling and abiding by an order of protection involving the woman for 18 months.
If he adheres to the rules, he will be allowed to withdraw his plea and be resentenced to a conditional discharge of harassment in the second degree, a violation — which will remain on his record.
If Chabon fails to meet all the terms of the agreement, he faces up to a year in jail.
A rep for Chabon said in a statement that the prosecution’s case fell apart when the victim admitted to others that the sexual encounter was consensual — but that Chabon “accepts responsibility for engaging in consensual choking during a consensual sexual encounter.
“This past year has been incredibly difficult for Abraham and those closest to him. A smart, decent young man with a kind heart, Abraham is eager to move forward and rebuild his life and reputation,” the representative said.
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Thanks for signing up!
Chabon’s father is a celebrated American author who penned the novel “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay,” which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2001.
He is also known for other prominent novels including “Wonder Boys,” “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” and “Moonglow.”
His next novel, “The Night Garden,” is expected to be released in the fall.
Chabon’s mother, Ayelet Waldman, is also a celebrated author whose new novel “A Perfect Hand” was published by Knoph in May.
