Wednesday, November 4, 2009

PLANTATION KEY -- Calling Donald Lee Faulkner a "monster," Circuit Judge Luis Garcia on Monday sentenced the 47-year-old Key Largo man to four years in prison and five years' probation for aggravated battery on his former girlfriend.

Last New Years' Eve, Faulkner beat Christine Barton, 46, when they began to argue after a night of drinking, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office report.

Later, at the home they shared on Transylvania Avenue, Faulkner threw Barton to the ground, ripped her nose ring out with his teeth and bit her on the arm and cheek.

Both Barton's cheek and a bone in her hand were broken. Her ear was also "partially torn" from her head, according to Sheriff's Office reports.

As part of his sentence, Faulkner was also ordered to undergo anger management classes, stay away from alcohol and reimburse the Florida Victim Crimes Compensation Fund $10,370 to cover the cost of his victim's medical bills.

The defense attorney had asked the court to sentence Faulkner to a period of community control rather than any prison sentence. He had rejected a plea that would have him serve just 364 days in jail.

Barton asked the court to sentence Faulkner to the maximum, which would have been 15 years. She told the court that she still has nightmares and feels lucky that she was able to get away from the defendant that night

Faulkner has been ordered to pay $500 directly to the victim and other costs totaling $13,490.