A jury has convicted Matthew William Zimmerman, 53, of Cedar Hill of a felony for assaulting his wife. The jury handed down the guilty verdict on March 4 after a trial before Jefferson County Div. 4 Judge Brenda Stacey at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
Zimmerman faces 10 to 30 years in prison or life in prison for domestic assault, a class A felony. Sentencing is scheduled for April 19.
The assault occurred Nov. 16, 2019, when Zimmerman beat his wife while she was driving on Hwy. 30, and he grabbed the wheel and tried to cause a crash, the woman said during her testimony at the trial.
During the assault, Zimmerman “punched her in the head several times to the point where she could not see out of her eye. Deputies who responded to a call about the incident observed “severe swelling on the left side of her face; the swelling started from the area of her temple and extended past her eye and to her lips and nose,” according to the probable-cause statement in the case.
During the trial, defense attorney Sean Westhoff questioned the victim about changing her testimony after Zimmerman’s initial arrest. The victim responded that her husband wanted her to lie on his behalf and she was afraid of him.
She also said that her husband had assaulted her on other occasions.
Assistant prosecuting attorney Molly Bravo, who tried the case for the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, praised the victim for her testimony.
“Family violence is a serious problem within our communities and I am fortunate to be a part of an office that aggressively pursues these cases,” Bravo said. “I am so proud of the victim for standing up in this case, as well as all of the people who supported her. This was a just outcome for a man who had deliberately hurt someone that he claimed to love. This outcome sends a message that this type of behavior should not be and will not be tolerated within our communities.”
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Trish Stefanski said Bravo is a particularly strong advocate for domestic abuse victims.
“Ms. Bravo is the only assistant prosecutor in the country who is a SANE-A (sexual assault nurse examiner) certified nurse,” Stefanski said. “She is doing a wonderful job of educating jurors about the cycle of violence and the torment that victims endure. She is not just an advocate but a strong voice for those victims who are too scared to speak out for themselves. Our community is very lucky to have her.”