WINNEMUCCA — The man who battered his wife and left her in an unconscious heap on the floor while he fled with the children was in 6^th Judicial District Court on Monday (Feb. 6) for arraignment.

Quinton Boyles, 35, pleaded guilty to battery causing substantial bodily harm, a category C felony, and faces a possible sentence of 1-5 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Boyles was convicted in December of misdemeanor domestic battery stemming from the same incident last November in which the victim was attacked by her husband and left with substantial injuries to include a broken collarbone, a concussion, and bruising to her legs.

She was taken first to Humboldt General Hospital then to Renown in Reno for life-saving care.  She initially told medical staff she hurt herself in a fall, but doctors weren’t buying that story.   A doctor later told police the only way she could have sustained  injuries that substantial in a fall is if she fell off a two-story building.

The victim later admitted to the hospital social worker she was the victim of domestic violence, which was ongoing and escalating, according to the report by the social worker.

On the night of the incident, the victim said she remembered her husband attacking her but didn’t remember anything else until she woke up in a heap on the floor hours later --  alone in the house.  Her husband and children were gone.  In serious pain due to the broken collarbone, she called for an ambulance.

A warrant was issued for Boyles charging attempted murder, battery causing substantial bodily harm, and domestic battery.

According to documents filed with the court, the Humboldt County DA’s Office went to work issuing subpoenas for the victim’s medical records at HGH and her personal physician due to the victim’s claim this was not the first time she ended up in the hospital with injuries sustained in an attack by her husband.

The DA’s Office also took a witness statement from a friend of the victim concerning an incident she overheard on the phone.  The incident involved an alleged violent encounter between Boyles and the victim.

The DA’s Office also alleged Boyles continued to harass the victim from jail.  A conversation between Boyles and his mother at the Humboldt County Detention Center was recorded.  In the recorded conversation he instructs her to change the locks on the house so the victim and the children could not return, to empty out the bank accounts so the victim wouldn’t have access to money, and to cancel the victim’s cell phone – among other things.

Ultimately, Boyles entered into a negotiated settlement with the state in which he agreed to plead guilty to the misdemeanor domestic battery and felony battery causing substantial bodily harm in exchange for which the charge of attempted murder would be dismissed and the DA’s Office would not bring any additional charges stemming from past incidents.

In court on Monday, however, Boyles told a different story than the one told by the victim about that November night.  He said his wife was hurt as he dragged her into the house and threw her on the floor.  He admitted he was rough when he did this.  He did not indicate why he left her there and fled with the children.

Matters broke down, however, when Boyles attempted to say he did not act deliberately.

Judge Richard Wagner said if the defendant did not act deliberately it was not a crime and the case would proceed to trial.

After discussions with his attorney, Boyles modified his statement and said he did not mean to break her collarbone.

Boyles told the court, “I just wanted her to come back into the house.”

Deputy DA Roger Whomes told the court the victim was not able to address the matter because she was rendered unconscious during the encounter and had almost no memory of the attack.  He reminded the court of the doctor’s statement concerning the substantial injuries sustained by the victim -- including a head injury that resulted in a concussion.

A sentencing hearing was set for 9 a.m. April 12.  As part of the negotiated settlement, the DA’s Office has agreed not to ask for any more prison time than recommended by Parole and Probation, which was 12-36 months.

However, sentencing is ultimately up to Judge Wagner.

Previous Posts:

Man charged with attempted murder following alleged domestic battery 

Man pleads guilty to domestic battery