LOGAN — A 41-year-old man is headed to prison for abusing and choking a pregnant woman in Benson two months ago. James Harlin Henderson, who already was convicted of assault and violating a protective order, has been in the Cache County Jail since being arrested April 7.
Henderson was sentenced June 2 in Logan’s 1st District Court. He previously accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to three counts of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony; along with assaulting a pregnant woman and violating a protective order, both class A misdemeanors.
According to prosecutors, Cache County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a trailer near 2600 W. SR-30, on report of a domestic dispute on April 7. The victim said Henderson had beat her up and choked her. The woman had a bloody swollen lip, and red marks on her neck and face.
Deputies learned that Henderson had become upset with the victim, after she refused to cuddle with him. He then reportedly dragged her around the trailer by her hair, grabbed her by the face, and hit her on the back of her head.
The woman explained how Henderson later placed both hands around her throat and began restricting her airway. He then placed his knee across her throat, stating he was going to kill her and their unborn child. This occurred 3 or 4 times, with the defendant also reportedly shoving a blanket into the victim’s mouth to stop her from crying.
The woman told deputies, the assault lasted until Henderson got tired and began falling asleep. She was then able to sneak out of the trailer and call 911.
During Monday’s sentencing hearing, defense attorney Michael McGinnis said Henderson’s criminal history “isn’t good.” He blamed his client’s actions on drugs, and asked the court to consider a treatment program instead of incarceration.
Henderson said there was no rationalization for his behavior. He explained how he had been using drugs since he was 13.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Dane Murray said the defendant’s actions were due to a violence problem, not just a drug addiction. He said the defendant posed a danger to the public, the victim and the unborn child.
Judge Angela Fonnesbeck said Henderson posed a “very high risk to the community.” She sentenced him to three concurrent sentences of zero-to-five years in the Utah State Correctional Facility, plus an additional year that will run consecutively.