Man Convicted of Assaulting Woman

(Potosi, MO) A man from Illinois, Billy Ray Norton II, could be facing up to the maximum sentence 37 years in prison on three felony charges in connection to the assault of a woman in a cabin at Woodland Lakes in 2020. Norton, was convicted Thursday buy a Washington County Jury. According to information from the Washington County Prosecuting Attorney's Office Norton's former girlfriend received a broken nose, broken ribs, multiple stab wounds, a laceration over her eye which went to the bone, bruising from strangulation, and bruising all over her body. Authorities described it as the most brutal assault they had ever seen. The victim testified Norton threw her over the railing of his cabin and she was able to stumble and crawl her way to a neighboring cabin for help. Norton told the jury he had hit the woman in self defense when she cam at him with a pocket knife. Norton is disabled yet stands 6' 7" while the victim is 5' 3" tall. Norton is scheduled for final sentencing January 22nd.