News Flash

Sonora, California –– Tuolumne County District Attorney Laura Krieg announced today that Tuolumne County resident  John Arrowood was convicted by a jury on March 7, 2017 before Judge Kevin Seibert of corporal injury to a spouse causing great bodily injury and criminal threats.  Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Novelli prosecuted the case for the People.

On January 19, 2016, the defendant drank alcohol and started to yell at the victim, with whom he was married. He threatened to beat her up and then started to push her. He then threatened to kill her, took her by the hair and neck and threw her in to kitchen wall, where the victim’s head struck first and caused a hole in the wall. The victim lost consciousness and fell to the ground, causing injury to her shoulder. The victim retreated to the bathroom and called 911 to help but hung up as she was terrified that the defendant would catch her. Upon arriving at the home, Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Deputies were met by the defendant who did not want to let them in to the house or to check on the victim. The victim then came to the door and mouthed the words “help me” while standing behind the defendant. The defendant remained belligerent throughout the encounter even after his arrest. The defendant has multiple misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence related charges out of Nevada, two of which were against this victim. During the trial, the victim and a family member described the years of abuse that the victim had endured, physically and emotionally, at the hands of the defendant.

On April 5, 2017, The Tuolumne County Probation Department recommended a term of 7 years in State Prison. The People vigorously argued for 9 years. Judge Seibert sentenced the defendant to 6 years in State Prison.

The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the members of the jury for their careful attention to the case and their thoughtful deliberations.  A special thank you goes to law enforcement officers from the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office for their hard work and dedication to solving these crimes and to the victim and civilian witness who had the courage to stand up against the longstanding abuse carried out by the defendant.