A Vancouver man who strangled his wife and repeatedly head-butted and punched her in the face was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison.
Clark County Superior Court Judge Gregory Gonzales accepted a plea agreement between the attorneys and sentenced Robert W. Clark, 43, to 120 months on a charge of first-degree domestic violence assault.
The judge noted that the crime is a most serious offense and warned that if Clark were to commit two more such crimes, he’d face automatic lifetime imprisonment under state law.
Deputy Prosecutor Anna Klein said she worked hard with the defense to reach the agreement, which was described as a mid-range punishment.
During his brief comments to the court, Clark told the judge between silent sobs, “I’m very sorry.” His now ex-wife declined to speak when given the opportunity.
Clark was arrested in January on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder, second-degree domestic violence assault-strangulation and unlawful imprisonment in connection with the attack at The Heathman Lodge, 7801 N.E. Greenwood Drive, Vancouver.
The woman told police that Clark assaulted her for nearly two hours in a hotel room. He strangled her with an unknown object and used his hands to try to cut off her airway. He also repeatedly head-butted and punched her in the face. She said she was gasping for air and feared that if she lost consciousness, Clark would kill her, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
She was eventually able to fire two shots from a gun that was in her purse near his head to scare him off. The woman ran from the room and called 911, court records said.
Police said the woman was barefoot and crying, and she was angry no one had heard her cries or the gunshots, the affidavit states.
The court imposed a lifetime no-contact order so Clark can never again speak to or see the victim.
