Arizona man sentenced to 10 years in prison for stomping on pregnant wife’s stomach

PHOENIX — A Prescott man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for assaulting his pregnant wife with the intent of forcing her to miscarry, authorities announced Tuesday.

Justin Joseph Noecker, 43, was also sentenced to seven years of supervised probation for kidnapping because he restrained her during the attack, according to the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office.

In late October 2024, Noecker and his wife got into an argument, after which she said he would give her an abortion, restrained her and repeatedly stomped on her stomach, prosecutors said.

Although the victim went to the hospital, their baby did not survive.

Medical records couldn’t determine if the baby’s death was the result of Noecker’s assault or if his wife had a miscarriage before the attack, prosecutors said.

However, Noecker was charged with attempted murder because he believed the baby was alive during the assault.

The victim told detectives with the Prescott Police Department that she was around nine weeks pregnant. Although she said she and her husband were looking forward to having the child, Noecker attacked her after a fight in the days following the discovery of the pregnancy.

Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane hopes the Arizona Legislature will increase the penalties for domestic violence cases like Noecker’s.

“I believe all life is sacred. Mr. Noecker’s selfish decision to violently terminate his partner’s pregnancy is chilling,” McGrane said in the announcement. “I hope the prison sentence imposed in this case will send a message that violent crime has no place in Yavapai County.”

Related

Arizona woman sentenced to 15 years for domestic violence16-year-old boy sentenced to 3.5 years in Arizona prison for beating girlfriendPinal County man who murdered estranged wife by stabbing her 43 times sentenced to life in prisonLive updates for Arizona’s 2026 midterm primaries: County website glitchMain roadway between Maricopa and metro Phoenix closed after fatal incidentArizona voters to choose Republican and Democratic nominees for top education position