A Houston man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend while threatening her with a box cutter.
Chaney
Michael Earl Chaney pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and burglary of a habitation. The 45-year old appeared before 434th District Court Judge James H. Shoemake during a hearing to determine his punishment.
According to Assistant District Attorney Jill Stotts, Chaney drove by his ex-girlfriend’s house in late 2008 and saw her new boyfriend’s car parked there. He became so enraged that he broke into the house through a window. The defendant threatened the new boyfriend with a box cutter if he didn’t leave. After forcing the man out, Chaney locked the door before breaking through the bedroom door to get at his ex-girlfriend. He assaulted her and forced her to perform sex acts while he held the box cutter.
Because the victim dialed 911 as soon as she heard breaking glass, the police arrived quickly and most of the incident can be heard on the call. Chaney ran out the back door as the police came to the front – but ran straight to his victim’s mother’s house. The defendant broke into her house but left after being confronted by the victim’s brother. Chaney surrendered to authorities the next day.
Chaney has a previous conviction for arson involving the residence of an ex-girlfriend and also the residence of her parents. The defendant served only six years of a 15 year prison sentence and was weeks away from completing his parole when he committed these new crimes.
“We are pleased the judge recognized and punished the defendant’s pattern of behavior in regards to his former girlfriends,” said Stotts. “This sentence sends a clear message that domestic violence will not be tolerated in Fort Bend County.”
Both crimes in this case are first-degree felonies punishable by 5-99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Under Texas law, Chaney will be approximately 70 years old before he can be considered for parole again.
Assistant District Attorneys Jill Stotts and Natalie Sarfin prosecuted the case. Attorney Eric Ashford represented the defendant.
This man got what he deserved. I shouldn’t even call him a man. A real man would never lay his hand on a woman. He obviously wasn’t over the break up of his relationship and wanted to make his ex-girlfriend pay. This is a possesive man who couldn’t deal with the fact that his ex had moved on and didn’t want to be with him. He had a pattern of this kind of behaviour and he deserves the lengthy incarceration. I hope his fellow prisoner’s do to him what he did to his ex-girlfriend.