A 61-year-old man from Charleston County, South Carolina, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of domestic violence against his live-in girlfriend.
Richard Hunter Bottoms was convicted of second-degree domestic violence following a one-day trial related to an incident that took place in September 2024.
Victim Reported Assault After Waiting for Safety
According to officials, the victim approached the Charleston Police Department on September 11, 2024, and reported that she had been assaulted the previous day by Bottoms, her partner of six years.
She told authorities that Bottoms came home angry and accused her of having an affair with a neighbour. When she denied the accusation, Bottoms became violent.
“He screamed in her face, grabbed her arms, and tried to pull her to the ground,” the Solicitor’s Office said in a statement.
“The pulling caused serious bruising and tore the skin on her arms, resulting in multiple open, bloody wounds.”
The victim feared that if Bottoms managed to pull her to the ground, he would strangle her. Adding to the fear, Bottoms threatened her:
“If you report this to the police, you’ll be dead before they get here.”
Fearing for her life, the victim waited until the next day, when Bottoms left for work, to report the incident.
Prior Domestic Violence History Revealed
During the trial, it was also revealed that Bottoms had a previous domestic violence conviction involving the same victim in May 2023. This history of abuse played a role in the court’s decision.
Sentence Includes Probation After Jail Time
After hearing the case, the court sentenced Bottoms to:
18 months in prison
Followed by 18 months of probation
The authorities have reminded the public that domestic violence is taken seriously in South Carolina, especially in cases involving repeat offenders.
