Cobb man sentenced for choking and duct taping wife 'to shut her up'
A Marietta man was sentenced Monday to two years in prison for choking and binding his wife during an argument.
A jury convicted Daniel LaPorta, 59, of false imprisonment and battery. He has been in Cobb County jail since the Oct. 26 conviction.
LaPorta was having a shouting match with his wife about 7:30 a.m. on March 12, 2015. When it got heated, he put her in a chokehold until she passed out, according to the Cobb district attorney's office.
LaPorta used duct tape to bind her legs and hands before putting tape over her mouth and head "to shut her up," the man said in court.
The incident happened at their eight-bedroom, four-bath home on Frog Leap Trail a couple minutes away from the Marietta Country Club.
"This case confirms that domestic violence occurs regardless of age, race, or socioeconomic factors," said prosecutor Drew Healy.
It was revealed in court that the couple had known each other since they were children, but were only married a few years. They are now divorced.
Just before imposing the sentence, Cobb Superior Judge Stephen Schuster said that their relationship was toxic.
"On that day at that time, he was a very dangerous individual," Schuster said. "She had to be terrified."
LaPorta will also serve three years of probation and may not have any contact with his ex-wife.
About the Author
Ben Brasch is the reporter tasked with keeping Fulton County government accountable. The Florida native moved to Atlanta for a job with The AJC. If there's something important to you going on in Fulton, he wants to know about it. Help him better metro Atlanta by dropping a line, anonymously or otherwise.
