A 2-year-old witnessed a horrifying attack on their mother as her partner choked her until she lost consciousness and then stomped on her face, California prosecutors say. Nathan James Sumpter, 28, of Oroville, has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for the violent assault, according to the Butte County District Attorney’s Office.
Sumpter pleaded no contest to felony charges of assault likely to cause great bodily injury and dissuading a witness, as well as a misdemeanor for violating a previous restraining order, prosecutors said. Attorney information for Sumpter was not immediately available.
Despite the existing restraining order, Sumpter went to the woman’s home on the evening of July 8. Law enforcement responded, but Sumpter hid in the home, threatening the woman and her family if she revealed his presence. Once the authorities left, Sumpter reportedly attacked her, punching her in the face and strangling her.
“Sumpter’s brutality continued the next morning when he strangled her to the point of unconsciousness and stomped on her face in front of their 2-year-old child,” prosecutors said. After the assault left the woman unresponsive, Sumpter called the woman’s aunt, who arrived at the scene.
Law enforcement was again contacted, and the victim was taken to a hospital, where she received treatment for a fractured eye socket. Sumpter fled the home after the incident but was later apprehended by authorities. Oroville, the location of the attack, is approximately 70 miles north of Sacramento.
The Butte County District Attorney’s Office emphasized the severity of the assault and the impact on the young child who witnessed the attack. Prosecutors described Sumpter’s actions as a clear violation of the restraining order and a dangerous threat to both the victim and her family.
“This case underscores the dangers posed by individuals who disregard court orders and commit acts of violence in the home,” prosecutors said in their news release.
Sumpter’s sentencing follows a growing emphasis in California courts on protecting domestic violence victims, particularly in cases where children are present during violent incidents. The DA’s office said it will continue to pursue strict penalties for offenders who endanger both partners and children in domestic settings.