A Hall County man has entered a guilty plea to crimes associated with what the county's top prosecutor calls one of the most "horrible attack[s] upon a domestic violence victim" he's ever seen.
Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh announced Wednesday that Thomas Christopher Robinson, Sr., 44, was sentenced to life in prison plus 70 consecutive years behind bars for an ongoing assault on a pregnant woman in 2019.
Robinson entered guilty pleas to the following crimes on Tuesday, Oct. 12:
- Kidnapping with bodily injury
- Four counts of aggravated battery under the Family Violence Act
- Two counts of aggravated assault under the Family Violence Act
- Criminal attempt to commit feticide
- False imprisonment
- Interference with a 911 call
- Influencing a witness
The victim of the crimes was a 38-year-old pregnant woman who was the target of extended attacks between Dec. 16 and Dec. 18, 2019.
"I have been a felony prosecutor for 40 years. Rarely have I seen a more egregiously horrible attack upon a domestic violence victim that did not result in the death of the victim," Darragh said in a statement. "It would be my hope that the parole board never allow this man to see the light of day again."
According to details in the indictment against Robinson, the victim suffered "bruising and swelling and lacerations and abrasions" on her face and body. She also had "cord pattern" injuries on her torso and back. The indictment said Robinson repeatedly kicked the victim's face and body with steel-toed boots; she was kicked in the vaginal area in an apparent attempt to kill her unborn child. The victim suffered cigar burns on her face. Also, Robinson threatened to electrocute the victim, forcing her into a bathtub filled with water and holding an extension cord over the water.
Darragh said Robinson entered his plea in Hall County Superior Court before Judge Clint Bearden after a jury had been selected to hear the case but prior to presentation of evidence. Darragh said the evidence would have included information on a similar domestic incident involving a different victim in Louisiana eight years prior to the Hall County attack.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Kelley Robertson handled the case for the District Attorney’s office. Investigator Kristen Miller of the Gainesville Police Department was the primary investigator in the case.
