According to District Attorney Micheal Murray, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, a Mills County jury convicted Michael Gonzalez, 26, of Aggravated Assault Causing Serious Bodily Injury against a Family Member with a Deadly Weapon.

On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, Gonzalez was sentenced to incarceration for seventy years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division by the same jury.

Assistant District Attorney Elisha Bird presented evidence during the seven-day trial that on November 20, 2020, Gonzalez brutally assaulted his girlfriend while at their residence and then left her unconscious at a hospital in Killeen. Medical evidence showed that Gonzalez’s girlfriend sustained life threatening injuries that were the result of blunt force trauma. Bird presented the testimony of two doctors who treated the victim – an emergency room doctor from Advent Health and a general surgeon from Baylor Scott & White where the victim was transferred for surgery. Both doctors believed that the victims injuries posed a substantial risk of death. Bird also presented evidence that the emergency room doctor had to remove a large ball of hair from the victim’s trachea. Further evidence indicated that Gonzalez cut the victim’s hair off and forcibly shoved the hair down the victim’s throat while she was unconscious.  Medical evidence also showed dozens of separate injuries to the victim – including a footprint shaped bruise to her side, hemorrhaging in both eyes, bruising covering her from head to toe, and a laceration that extended several inches across the victim’s chest.

Before assessing a prison sentence, the jury also heard evidence that Gonzalez had no remorse for his actions, and continued to act in a disruptive and threatening manner even while being held in custody. The victim and law enforcement testified that Gonzalez was involved with narcotics and has made many statements indicating an intent to continue acting in a violent manner.

Gonzalez’s attorney asked the jury to give Gonzalez probation. Bird presented evidence that Gonzalez had been unable to successfully complete a previous misdemeanor probation and that Gonzalez also violated a previous emergency protective order.