Rexburg doctor agrees to serve jail time in domestic abuse case
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RIVERTON, Wyoming — A Rexburg surgeon has agreed to serve two months in jail as part of a plea agreement after being charged in connection with assaulting his wife.
In plea documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, Michael Larson, 60, agrees to plead guilty to misdemeanor domestic battery and false imprisonment. A felony and three misdemeanors will be dismissed as part of the agreement.
Ember Oakley, Fremont County, Wyoming, prosecuting attorney, would not comment on why some of the charges were dismissed.
“It’s an ongoing case,” Oakley said. “At this point there are people to protect on either side.”
Larson has agreed to admit that in late November, he “knowingly caused bodily injury to his wife by use of physical force, and doing so he also knowingly restrained his wife so as to interfere substantially with her liberty,” according to court documents.
The charges stem from a night of alcohol use resulting in physical abuse to Larson’s wife and allegedly to his children in late November in a remote cabin in Wyoming.
Larson’s wife told police he had been drinking, according to police reports. Following an argument, she said Larson dragged her outside by her hair, threatened her and repeatedly hit and kicked her. Reports indicate at one point children in the home tried to shield their mother from Larson’s blows. He is then alleged to have struck a child.
Court documents show the state of Wyoming intends to dismiss the felonious restraint charge and two misdemeanor domestic battery charges relating to Larson allegedly using the victim’s hair to hit her head against objects, and biting her. Additionally, a misdemeanor endangering children charge also will be dropped.
The state agrees to not refile the dismissed charges or file any additional charges against Larson connected to the Nov. 27 incident. The state will agree to Larson being offered deferred status, meaning if Larson successfully completes the terms of his probation, the misdemeanor charge of domestic battery will be dismissed.
Sentencing
On the misdemeanor domestic battery charge, both parties agree to a sentence of two years of supervised probation (to be transferred by the Wyoming Department of Corrections to Madison County, Idaho). Should Larson fail to meet the terms of probation, he could be incarcerated up to 180 days.
On the false imprisonment charge, all parties agree to a term of one year of supervised probation, to be ran concurrent with the domestic battery charge, as well as a 365-day jail sentence, with 305 days to be suspended.
Larson agrees to spend 60 days in the Fremont County, Wyoming Jail. Larson will have 30 days to report to the jail following his sentencing. He will be permitted to serve his 60-day sentence in two separate terms of 30 days.
EastIdahoNews.com tried to reach out to Larson, but his office manager decline to comment on his behalf.
“He has never had anything to say to you guys. He has no statement for you,” she said.
According the agreement signed by Oakley, Larson and his attorney, Larson will plead guilty during a change of plea hearing on March 11. Oakley said Larson will also be sentenced during the hearing.
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