In Oroville, California, a case of domestic violence that played out in secrecy has ended with a prison sentence — though for many, the brutality involved makes the punishment feel modest.

Nathan James Sumpter, 28, was sentenced Thursday to two years and eight months behind bars after prosecutors say he ambushed the mother of his child in her own home, hiding from police during a welfare check before beating and strangling her once officers left. The Butte County District Attorney’s Office described the assault as a “vicious beating and strangling,” one that left the victim with a fractured eye socket and trauma that will not heal as quickly as bones.

The details are grim. On July 8, Sumpter violated an existing restraining order and entered the woman’s home. Police arrived at the residence, but rather than confront them, he hid — threatening the woman and her family if they revealed he was inside. Once law enforcement left, Sumpter turned on her. He punched her in the face and strangled her until she lost consciousness.

The violence did not end that night. The following morning, prosecutors say, he attacked her again — choking her to the point of unconsciousness once more and stomping on her face, all in front of their two-year-old child. When the woman did not wake up, Sumpter reportedly panicked, calling her aunt for help before fleeing the scene. The victim was later rushed to a hospital, where doctors treated her for severe injuries.

District Attorney Mike Ramsey said, “This vicious beating and strangling highlights the insidious nature of domestic violence. It happens out of sight, behind closed doors.”

Sumpter was arrested soon after and ultimately pleaded no contest to felony charges of assault likely to cause great bodily injury and dissuading a witness, along with a misdemeanor count of violating the restraining order. In exchange, he avoided trial on other charges.

For the victim, the assault was not just an act of violence but a violation of safety in the one place that should have been secure: her home. That her young child witnessed the attack adds another layer of harm, one that courts cannot easily measure.

The case also highlights the difficult balance courts often face in sentencing domestic violence offenders. For prosecutors, the conviction represents accountability; for the victim, the memory of her assault and the fear it engenders may outlast the prison term.

Sumpter will serve his sentence in state prison, with credit for time already spent in custody.