Man sentenced for shocking woman with stun gun
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IDAHO FALLS — A man who shocked a woman in what a judge described as “abuse” and “torture” will serve a rider.
Matthew Ellis Kinney, 41, was sentenced by Judge Dane Watkins Jr. on Jan. 29 for domestic battery by inflicting serious harm or injury. He will serve two to seven years of suspended prison time dependent on his successful completion of the rider program.
In July, Kinney chased the victim out of a home and used an electric device, similar to a Taser, on the woman’s body. The shocks left multiple burns and scratches on the victim, according to court documents.
During the sentencing hearing in Bonneville County, the victim described the abuse.
“Matt’s big hand around my neck, my body being slammed down to the ground, all of his weight pressing down on the hand he has wrapped around my throat. Sharp pain in my side, body stunned. Coming to the realization he is, in fact, using a Taser on me,” she said.
Kinney admitted to attacking the victim but told Watkins that the incident has been exaggerated. He said he did not initiate the violence and exaggerated statements made in court have “slandered” his name. He claims the “exaggeration of facts” reported by the media have made it impossible for him to live in the area.
“I don’t want to be convicted on something that has been exaggerated in something that’s not,” Kinney said in court.
Defense Attorney Rocky Wixom said while his client’s actions were inappropriate, he wanted to point out that Kinney was acting in self-defense. He said it was the victim who initially brought out the Taser as the argument progressed.
Bonneville County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tanner Crowther said the victim didn’t use the device on Kinney but that Kinney was the one who used the weapon.
“He took it (the stun gun) and let her have it,” Crowther said.
Watkins said reports differ greatly on the number of times Kinney used the stun device on the woman but it is not the number that matters.
“You tased an individual a number of times. You don’t want to put a number on that because if it’s more than once, it becomes an extremely aggravating case,” Watkins said.
If Kinney is released from custody at the completion of the rider program, he will spend a period of time on probation.