Man gets prison for multi-day assault

A Norton man faces prison time for a domestic violence incident that took place over eight days in August.

Thomas Gene Gross, 54, was convicted in Wise County Circuit Court, according to a Thursday afternoon press release from Commonwealth Attorney Chuck Slemp.

Gross pleaded guilty to abduction, strangulation and assault and battery of a family member, as well as soliciting the victim to commit perjury.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with seven years suspended. Thus, he will serve a total active sentence of three years. Following his release, Gross will be required to complete seven years of probation, with three years supervised by the court.

On Aug. 20, a written statement was taken at Norton Community Hospital from a woman who advised that Gross had kept her locked in their Norton home, had struck her with both an open and closed hand, pushed her and strangled her to the point that her airway was cut off, according to Slemp.
She also informed police that he would block doorways, not allowing her to leave, took her cell phone so she could not make calls, told her that if the police showed up he would kill her before they got to him, and even said if he went to jail he would make sure to kill her as well.
The domestic assault began on Aug. 12, according to Slemp.

Gross remains in the custody of the Duffield regional jail.

The Norton Police Department investigated and Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Kristen Dowling prosecuted the case.