Cheyenne Man Who Put Ex-Wife in Hospital Gets Jail, Probation

A Cheyenne man who beat up his ex-wife, leaving her with a traumatic brain injury, will spend the next six months in jail before serving a four-year probation sentence.

• RELATED: Cheyenne Man Out on Bond After Sending Ex-Wife to Hospital

Laramie County District Court Judge Thomas Campbell on Monday, Feb. 5, sentenced 52-year-old Paul Joseph Lopez to concurrent sentences of three to eight years for strangulation of a household member - throat or neck and aggravated assault and battery - serious bodily injury, suspended in favor of four years supervised probation consecutive to a six-month jail sentence for interference with an emergency call.

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The Assault

Police say they were called to a physical disturbance at the Eagles Lodge at 1600 Thomes Ave. around 12:10 a.m. on May 19, 2023, and arrived to find a large altercation between multiple males going on outside and a woman lying on the ground.

The woman reportedly told police that Lopez, her ex-husband, found her inside the lodge and made a comment similar to, "You're not going to live to see your grandchildren."

When Lopez's ex-wife went outside to leave, Lopez reportedly walked up behind her, grabbed her by her shirt collar, and pinned her up against a fence in the parking lot.

Lopez's ex-wife reportedly grabbed her phone to call for help, but Lopez threw her into a parked car, then grabbed her again and threw her onto the ground, causing her to hit her head on the pavement.

Lopez then reportedly grabbed his ex-wife by the neck and strangled her.

According to a booking sheet, multiple witnesses exited the lodge to find Lopez's ex-wife on the ground and Lopez smashing her phone on the ground. The witnesses then attempted to hold Lopez back from assaulting anyone else.

Lopez reportedly told police that he and his ex-wife had been together for 15 years and had two children in common.

Police say Lopez also claimed that his ex-wife had swung at him before he pushed her to the ground, but he refused to say anything more about what had happened.

Police say Lopez's ex-wife had multiple injuries consistent with her story and red marks on her neck consistent with the shape of fingers and a thumb.

She was taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and was found to have red marks near her armpits from her clothing rubbing after Lopez pinned her up against the fence, a small laceration on the back of her head, and a bump forming from where she hit her head on the ground.

Lopez was subsequently arrested and charged with strangulation of a household member - throat or neck and aggravated assault and battery - serious bodily injury, both felonies, as well as interference with an emergency call, interference with a peace officer, and property destruction, all misdemeanors.

He pleaded guilty to the first three charges as part of a plea agreement, and as a result, the state dismissed the other two charges.