Tony Ledbetter, of Sioux Falls, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault after he sliced off his former partners nipples in an appalling frenzy. He was jailed for 45 years
A woman who had her breasts mutilated with scissors by her depraved ex-boyfriend asked him whether he ‘felt like a man?’ as he was sent to 45 years in prison.
Tony Ledbetter, of Sioux Falls, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault after he sliced off his former partners nipples in an appalling frenzy.
The victim, who was pregnant at the time of the attack, addressed Ledbetter directly during the trial in South Dakota and asked him: ‘Do you feel like a man?’
As part of a plea deal, prosecutors agreed to ask for no more than 30 years.
However, Judge Doug Hoffman reneged on the plea agreement Tuesday and gave Ledbetter the maximum 45 years, the Argus reports.
Ledbetter, who apologized in court, was accused of sitting on the woman and slicing off her nipples with a pair of scissors during an argument last year.
The victim told the court how her injuries affected her physically and emotionally.
She addressed Ledbetter directly, saying, ‘Do you feel like a man?’
The attack happened in October 2016, when the attacker asked to speak to the victim about their relationship at her apartment.
Arguing, Ledbetter punched her and slammed her head on the ground, police said.
When she screamed for help Ledbetter tried to crush her windpipe with his forearm and by stuffing a blanket in her mouth.
As she became unconscious, Ledbetter used a pair of scissors to cut off her nipples and hack at her other breast.
Ledbetter knew she wanted to nurse the child, the survivor said, explaining why he had mutilated her breasts
She was able to break free and go to the hospital, where she learned the unborn baby was unharmed.
Ledbetter knew she wanted to nurse the child, the survivor said, explaining why he had mutilated her breasts.
She said in her victim statement that Ledbetter had controlling and obsessive tendencies, and had once driven to her work to check on her location.
‘Because I was strong enough to say, “Enough is enough,” I almost paid the ultimate price. I was nearly killed for what? “Asking for my space?”,’ she said in her statement to the court.
Listing some of Ledbetter’s previous arrests, Judge Doug Hoffman said the attack had broken into women’s homes, damaged their property, vandalized their cars and used their credit cards.
Ledbetter pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault in August, for choking and strangling his ex-girlfriend and using scissors to cut her nipples.
The victim, who was pregnant at the time of the attack, addressed Ledbetter directly during the trial in South Dakota and asked him: ‘Do you feel like a man?’
Each count carried a maximum of 15 years in prison.
Ledbetter’s lawyers said he was remorseful for the attack and was seeking help from the jail’s chaplain and anger management program.
However, Judge Hoffman went against the plea agreement of a 30-year cap and imposed the maximum 45 years, ordering no contact with the victim and her child.