WINNEMUCCA - Steven Earl Crutchfield, who pleaded guilty to domestic battery in November, was sentenced Monday to 24 to 60 months in the Nevada Department of Corrections after telling Sixth Judicial District Judge Michael Montero he acted in self-defense but admitted he deserved jail time.
Crutchfield was arrested in April after punching his wife in the face, knocking out several of her front teeth, and cutting her lip, according to court documents.
Public defender Matt Stermitz argued Monday that Crutchfield claimed the incident involved "mutual combat" and that the reason his injuries were less substantial was because he is bigger.
Stermitz told Montero that Crutchfield would like a sentence of probation.
Deputy District Attorney Roger Whomes, however, was adamant that Crutchfield deserved time in prison.
"Crutchfield is someone that screams for 24 to 60 months," he said. "This PSI (pre-sentence investigation) turns my stomach."
Whomes said that Crutchfield has been convicted of crimes many times before and knew exactly what he was doing.
"He beat her, he knocked her teeth out, and fled like a dog," Whomes said.
According to Whomes, when law enforcement responded to the incident, Crutchfield tore a screen from a window and ran from the scene.
Crutchfield said that while he was sorry for what he did, it was a reaction to being attacked.
"I know I deserve prison time," he said, "but I didn't go in there and attack anyone."
Crutchfield said he was in a defensive position when his wife hit him and he reacted in self-defense.
Crutchfield also claimed that he had previously intended to take the case to trial but said he felt "threatened" by Whomes and decided he had no choice but to take the deal he was offered by prosecutors.
Crutchfield was originally charged with three counts: domestic battery with two prior convictions in the last seven years, domestic battery with strangulation, and burglary. In earlier proceedings he pleaded not guilty to all three and was scheduled to go to trial in January. After negotiations with the district attorney's office however, counts one and two were dropped and Crutchfield changed his plea to guilty to domestic battery with substantial bodily harm on Nov. 5.
Crutchfield was remanded into custody and ordered to carry out his sentence. He was given 122 days of credit for time served.
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