An Arizona resident has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for violently assaulting his wife in an attempt to force an abortion.

Joseph Noecker, aged 43, received a 10-year prison sentence for attempted second-degree murder, as reported by the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office. Following his release, he will also undergo seven years of supervised probation for the crime of kidnapping.

The incident dates back to late October 2024, when Noecker and his wife were expecting a child. She had recently been informed by her doctor that she was about nine weeks pregnant, and at the time, both she and Noecker appeared to be anticipating the arrival of their baby, according to authorities.

However, the situation took a drastic turn within days.

After learning of the pregnancy, the couple began to argue. Prosecutors stated that during one of these confrontations, “Noecker became enraged and threatened to forcibly induce an abortion by restraining and repeatedly stomping on his wife’s abdomen.”

The victim was rushed to the hospital, but tragically, the unborn child did not survive.

According to the DA’s office, however, investigators could not determine an exact time when the pregnancy ended. They were “unable to determine” whether the unborn baby died due to Noecker’s attack or a miscarriage that took place previously. The defendant was handed the attempted murder charge “as he believed the baby was alive at the time of the crime,” and charged with kidnapping “for restraining his wife during the attack.”

Authorities noted that Arizona law “protects an unborn baby at any stage of development with the same penalties as any young child victim.”

Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane said in a statement that Noecker’s “selfish decision to violently terminate his partner’s pregnancy is chilling.”

He added: “I hope the prison sentence imposed in this case will send a message that violent crime has no place in Yavapai County.”

Noecker will spend his 10-year sentence in the Arizona State Prison.