TEXARKANA, Ark. - A man who assaulted his pregnant girlfriend at a local motel room in January was sentenced last week to 12 years in prison by a Miller County jury.
The woman assaulted by Antwon Picaso Wheaton, 29, was not the only woman to testify that Wheaton is guilty of domestic violence. A former girlfriend also testified against Wheaton.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell said that after learning of Wheaton's 42 prior felony convictions and previous convictions for domestic violence, the jury sentenced him to just under the maximum punishment of 15 years.
Many of Wheaton's prior convictions are for breaking and entering, Mitchell said.
Circuit Judge Carlton Jones ordered that the 12-year term run consecutively to a six-year term Wheaton received in June on a prior domestic assault involving the former girlfriend who testified against Wheaton at his trial last week.
"We hope this sentence sends a message to offenders and the community that we will not tolerate domestic violence and offenders will be prosecuted," Mitchell said.
Wheaton, who was represented by Texarkana lawyer Josh Potter, is being held in the Miller County jail until he can be transported to the Arkansas Department of Correction.