A Lancaster city man will serve his “aggravated range” prison sentence for breaking into his estranged girlfriend’s home, then cutting, choking and beating her over visitation of their children.
Robert D. Dixon Jr., 25, appealed to the Pennsylvania Superior Court arguing a local jury didn’t have enough evidence to convict him of aggravated assault.
He claims, on appeal, that the evidence didn’t show intent to seriously hurt the woman.
The high court denied the request for a new trial, meaning Dixon will serve the 2-to-5-year sentence ordered last year in Lancaster County Court.
According to city police:
Dixon contacted the woman May 28, 2013, asking to see the children. The woman said no, because the children were in bed.
Dixon showed up at her home anyway.
The woman placed a chair under a door and also pushed a refrigerator in front of it, in attempt to keep Dixon outside.
That didn’t work; Dixon got inside the home, held a knife to the woman’s throat, and beat her. He punched her several times in the face, dragged her by the hair, and placed her in a chokehold.
She suffered cuts, bruises, and a separated shoulder.
Dixon claimed, on appeal, he didn’t knowingly cause the injuries.
The high court rejected that, saying Dixon “literally broke into the home” to contact the woman.
His intent “was not benign,” the high court states in an 11-page opinion issued Friday.
Lancaster County Assistant District Attorney James Reeder prosecuted the case.
District Attorney Craig Stedman mentioned the Dixon case and the Labor Day killing in Mount Gretna (Lebanon County) as reminders that domestic violence can, and does, happen anywhere - in urban and rural locations, alike.
In the Mount Gretna case, 46-year-old Stacey Pennington was killed by an ex-boyfriend, according to reports.
Pennington had an active protection-from-abuse order against the alleged, shooter, 47-year-old Patrick Derr, according to those reports.
More on that case: http://goo.gl/jvoaAc.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us