PORT ANGELES — A Clallam County judge has sentenced a 20-year-old Port Angeles man to 14 months in prison for second-degree assault by strangulation and unlawful imprisonment. Wyatt Hale pleaded guilty to the charges on September 17 in Clallam County Superior Court.
According to court documents, Hale grabbed his then-girlfriend by the throat, lifted her off the ground, restricted her breathing, and prevented her from calling 911 or leaving her home. Prosecutors said the sentence falls at the top of the standard range for a first-time offender.
Following his release, Hale will be placed under community custody supervision by the Washington State Department of Corrections. He will be required to undergo evaluations for substance use and mental health, follow all treatment recommendations, and complete anger management and domestic violence intervention programs.
The charges stemmed from two separate incidents. One case was dismissed as part of a global resolution, which allowed both survivors to present victim impact statements at sentencing. Each was also granted a 10-year protection order against Hale.
Judge Simon Barnhart handed down the sentence last week following the guilty plea.