A man serving time in prison for torturing his children’s mother with an electric clothes iron, will remain behind bars after the CA Board of Parole determined that Henry Cartwright III, age 55, continues to pose a risk to public safety.
Representing the District Attorney’s Office at the hearing and requesting the denial was Deputy DA Gina Nargie.
On January 22, 2009, Cartwright burned his girlfriend’s face, who also the mother of his two children, with a hot clothes iron after he eavesdropped on her phone conversation. Cartwright attacked the victim in the bedroom, grabbed her by the hair, and dragged her before pinning her down. He then burnt the side of her face and multiple spots on her back with the iron. In a voicemail recorded from the victim’s landline, Cartwright can be heard threatening to kill the victim and telling her that she would burn in hell. The receiver of the voicemail, the victim’s mother, could hear her daughter screaming every time Cartwright burned her with the iron. In the call, the victim begged and pleaded for Cartwright to stop.
On September 24, 2009, a Kern County Jury found Cartwright guilty of torture, assault with a deadly weapon (electric iron), felony domestic violence, and criminal threats. It was also found true that he caused great bodily injury to the victim and used a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to 14 years-to-life.
Earlier this month, the Board of Parole conducted Cartwright’s second parole hearing. At the hearing, Cartwright’s commissioners focused on their concerns related to negative institutional behavior, additional rehabilitative programming, and mental health management. Ultimately, Cartwright’s commissioners issued a three-year denial.
DA Zimmer commented; “Cartwright subjected the mother of his children to unimaginable suffering. No amount of time served can undo the harm he caused, but it is clear that he poses an ongoing threat to society if released.”