People v. Monsen CA3

FACTS

Defendant routinely insulted, demeaned, threatened, and physically abused his wife, A.M., during their three-year marriage. Their daughter, C.M., who was born a few weeks after the marriage began, was often caught in the middle of the abuse. Defendant

2 and A.M. separated at the end of 2010. Two specific instances of violence formed the basis of defendant’s convictions. February Incident In February 2011, A.M. brought C.M. to defendant’s apartment in Auburn for a visit. At defendant’s request, she also picked up defendant’s W-2 forms from his father’s house and brought them along. After playing with his daughter for a while, defendant asked A.M. to give him a ride to H&R Block and informed her he would be claiming her and C.M. as dependents for income tax purposes. When A.M. objected, defendant became violent. He pushed her against a wall, grabbed her by the throat, and choked her against the wall. When she managed to push him away and tried to leave the apartment with C.M., he grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back. She then yelled for him to let her leave, but he refused and continued arguing about taxes. Defendant then threw her onto his futon, causing her ribs…