KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A Knoxville man was found guilty Thursday of assaulting a woman and leaving her handcuffed for several hours while he threatened to kill her family.
According to a press release from the Knoxville District Attorney's Office, Michael Norton, 44, was found guilty of aggravated kidnapping, rape, aggravated assault and domestic assault. He is expected to be sentenced on Dec. 13.
The District Attorney's Office said on Oct. 10, 2022 Knox County deputies responded to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance on Strawberry Plains Pike. The victim told officers Norton strangled her in the kitchen when he got home from work. There was an attempt to call 911 but Norton broke her phone and strangled her until she passed out, according to the authorities.
The victim told deputies when she woke up, Norton punched her in the stomach, put handcuffs on her and pointed a revolver at her head. Officials said for four hours, Norton threatened to kill the woman's family and himself.
The District Attorney's Office said Norton eventually left the scene and the victim was able to call 911.
Knox County detectives interviewed Norton following his arrest. Officials said Norton confessed to the assault.
Norton later apologized to the victim and begged her to drop the charges, the District Attorney's Office said. Then during trial, he testified that he lied to police and that the victim was the one who assaulted him.
According to the district attorney, aggravated kidnapping and rape are class B felonies with a sentencing range of eight to 12 years in prison without the possibility of parole. Aggravated assault is a Class C felony with a sentencing range of three to six years.
Prosecutors said they plan to argue for an enhanced sentence due to the severity of the crime.
