Ertmann admits to slashing wife’s throat
Kristopher Ertmann
Tiffany Mead posed for a portrait at Barnes Park in Kaysville on Wednesday, July 16, 2014. Mead said that on July 23, 2013 she was attacked and her throat was slit by her now ex-husband, Kristopher Ertmann, in Fruit Heights. (BRIANA SCROGGINS/Standard-Examiner)
FARMINGTON — About a year after he slit the throat of his estranged wife in a public parking lot, Kristopher Lee Ertmann stood in shame as he pleaded no contest to aggravated assault and later trying to hire a hit man.
The 27-year-old, wearing a blue and white striped jail jumpsuit, walked into the courtroom of Judge David Hamilton Wednesday morning. Ertmann entered no-contest pleas to several charges, including aggravated assault. Tiffany Mead, his now ex-wife, watched intently from behind.
“I feel like we made a lot of progress,” said Mead after Ertmann’s hearing. “It’s finally almost over since it seemed like it never would be.”
Sentencing is set for Sept. 17.
Mead has attended every court hearing since Ertmann’s arrest on July 23, 2013 after the attack at a Fruit Heights park. This one no different.
Ertmann was initially charged with attempted murder, a first-degree felony. However, those charges were reduced to an aggravated assault, a second-degree felony.
RELATED: Ertmann to ‘hitman’: Have fun killing wife
“Though we’ve reduced the attempted murder down to an aggravated assault, the language in the criminal solicitation charge still reflects the state’s opinion … and that Mr. Ertmann attempted to kill his victim,” the prosecution said Wednesday. It noted the thin, white scar, 7 inches long, across Mead’s neck.
Additional allegations were filed by the Davis County Attorney’s Office accusing Ertmann of trying to hire someone from the jail to kill Mead. The couple’s divorce was finalized in August of 2013.
Ertmann was charged with one count of criminal solicitation, a first-degree felony, to which Ertmann also pleaded no contest. A first-degree felony carries a maximum sentence of five years to life in the Utah State Prison and a $10,000 fine.
He was also charged in a related case with two counts of communications fraud, both second-degree felonies. On Wednesday, count one of communications fraud was reduced to a third-degree felony to which Ertmann pleaded no-contest; count two was dismissed.
“In regards to the theft matter, it’s an enhanceable offence,” spoke the judge to Ertmann. “You understand that means that if there were to be future theft-related charges that the level of severity could be elevated because of the conviction of this particular case.”
“Yes sir,” Ertmann mumbled.
Mead first spoke to the Standard-Examiner July 16 to let others know that abuse should not to be tolerated. She spoke again to the Standard-Examiner on Wednesday after Ertmann’s hearing.
“I’m glad that there won’t be a trial so I don’t have to testify again.”
Contact reporter Morgan Briesmaster at 801-625-4268 or mbriesmaster@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @SE_mbriesmaster. Like her Facebook page at http://facebook.com/SEMorganBriesmaster.