FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 6, 2013
Contact: Heather F. Williamson
Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office
20 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176-2809
(703) 777-0242
SOUTH RIDING MAN SENTENCED FOR MALICIOUS WOUNDING AND STRANGULATION
JUDGE IMPOSES 8 YEARS FOR TORTURING GIRLFRIEND
LEESBURG, Virginia – June 6, 2013. Thomas Wesley Kufeld, 40, appeared before the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, in custody, for sentencing on one count of malicious wounding and one count of strangulation. Judge Burke F. McCahill, sentenced Kufeld to eight years of active incarceration in the Virginia Department of Corrections.
In late October, 2012, Kufeld subjected his then live-in girlfriend to hours of physical, emotional and psychological torture. Kufeld, who had been drinking earlier in the evening, became angry with the victim for talking on the phone. He subsequently grabbed her by her neck and pushed her against a wall, strangling her with his hands. Over the course of the next several hours Kufeld repeatedly assaulted the victim telling her that she “was going to die.” At one point during the assault the victim lost consciousness and when she regained consciousness the defendant was sitting on her chest inhibiting her breathing. As a result of the assault the victim suffered severe bruising, lacerations, and bite marks to her neck, arms, hands, and face.
Kufeld entered guilty pleas to both charges on January 28, 2013. His prior criminal history includes convictions for domestic assault and driving while intoxicated.
Prior to imposing a sentence McCahill addressed Kufeld directly, telling him that the word malicious aptly described his conduct, and that the defendant’s claim of having no recollection of the events that occurred on that night was not credible. McCahill went on to say that Kufeld “took advantage of an individual who in theory he was in love with,” and exerted a high level of control and domination over her for a sustained period resulting in a “high level of brutality and torture.”
In addition to the total active sentence of eight years, McCahill imposed an additional 12 years of suspended time, ordered Kufeld to complete a Batterers Program, and have no contact with the victim. Upon his release from prison, Kufeld will be placed on supervised probation for a period of ten years. Should he violate the terms of his supervised probation a portion of or any balance of the suspended time may be imposed by the Court.
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