Nick Pasqual, an actor recognized for his appearance in “How I Met Your Mother,” received a life sentence on Tuesday for a vicious assault on his ex-girlfriend.
Prosecutors revealed that he stabbed Allie Shehorn, a renowned special-effects makeup artist, over 20 times in her Southern California residence.
Last month, Pasqual, aged 36, was found guilty on several felony charges, including attempted murder, forcible rape, and domestic violence, related to the May 2024 attack on Shehorn in Sunland, California.
During his sentencing, Judge Hayden Zackey condemned Pasqual’s actions and handed down the life sentence, offering a scathing critique of his behavior.
Reports from the courtroom noted that the announcement of the sentence was met with applause from those present.
The judge characterized the assault as exceptionally brutal, telling Pasqual he was among the most egregious offenders the court had encountered.
Zackey also remarked that Pasqual had narrowly avoided a possible death sentence, saying Shehorn’s determination to stay alive ultimately spared him from that outcome.
‘I’ve never seen a person more hellbent on terrorizing another person,’ Zackey told the defendant, adding, ‘To call you a human being is an insult to society.’
Former actor Nick Pasqual was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend, award-winning makeup artist Allie Shehorn, during a 2024 attack
Shehorn, pictured in 2024, told the court how she fought to survive after being stabbed more than 20 times, using a belt to slow the bleeding before paramedics arrived. The scars of the attack can still be seen
Before the sentence was handed down, Shehorn addressed the court in an emotional victim impact statement.
Wearing a red dress that exposed the scars left by the assault, the 37-year-old recounted the terrifying moments after she was attacked.
She told the court she remembered lying in a pool of blood and wondering whether she would ever have the opportunity to become a mother.
Shehorn said she used a belt as a makeshift tourniquet around her neck in an effort to slow the bleeding until emergency responders arrived.
Despite the lasting physical reminders of the attack, she said she now views her scars as symbols of survival and referred to Pasqual as ‘a coward.’
The courtroom reacted audibly when Pasqual requested an opportunity to speak.
‘This weighs heavily on me,’ he said. ‘This is a burden that I will carry the rest of my life.’
Pasqual also told the court he was grateful Shehorn survived and said he remained focused on sobriety and remorse.
Following the hearing, however, Shehorn told The California Post that she did not believe his statements were sincere.
Shehorn said her ex subjected her to ‘controlling, coercive, threatening, and physically violent conduct’ during their relationship, claiming the abuse had escalated over time
Shehorn said she had survived the stabbing after undergoing emergency surgery and intensive medical treatment but was left with permanent injuries, emotional trauma, and ongoing medical expenses
The sentencing came weeks after Shehorn testified about what she described as a pattern of abusive and threatening behavior during their relationship.
She previously obtained a restraining order after a violent altercation led to their breakup.
After the May 2024 attack, Shehorn was discovered by a woman she considers a surrogate mother and was rushed to hospital, where doctors performed multiple surgeries.
Medical records presented during the case showed she suffered severe wounds to her neck along with injuries to her arms and abdomen.
She spent nearly a week in intensive care as doctors worked to save her life.
Authorities said Pasqual fled California following the stabbing and was arrested days later near the US-Mexico border in Sierra Blanca, Texas, while allegedly attempting to leave the country.
Court filings also alleged the actor had assaulted Shehorn on multiple occasions before the stabbing.
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