A Riverside man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for assaulting his girlfriend in 2019. Charles Cooke received the prison term on July 11, after pleading guilty to first degree domestic assault in April.

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, "This was a brutal assault that left the victim with a traumatic brain injury. This defendant deserves every day of the prison sentence he has been given."

On October 15, 2019, Cooke assaulted his then-girlfriend, punching her more than twenty times in the face and head. He left the victim unconscious on the floor, choking on her own blood. 

Cooke recorded the assault and its aftermath on his cell phone. After beating the victim, he spent 22 minutes cleaning up the crime scene. 

He then drove around for approximately10 minutes. Phone records indicated he called a friend and family member before calling 911. 

The victim spent more than two months in the hospital following the assault, and she suffered a traumatic brain injury, a broken eye socket, permanent vision damage, a shattered cheekbone, and the loss of multiple teeth. She went through six surgeries as a result of the assault. 

At the sentencing hearing, the victim testified about the physical and mental pain she continues to suffer, saying she cannot work and experiences distress most hours of every day.

Judge Megan Benton handed down the 20-year sentence, and Cooke must serve 85% of that sentence before becoming eligible for parole. 

Zahnd said, “I applaud Judge Benton for seeing this defendant as who he is: a very dangerous man who needs to be in prison for a very long time.”

The case was investigated by the Riverside Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Jaclyn Taylor and Justin Kalwei.

A photo of Cooke is attached. If you need additional information, please contact our office’s media liaison, Tanya Faherty.

Cooke