On Monday, Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Debra Phelan sentenced 43-year-old Justin Joseph Noecker of Prescott to a 10-year prison term for attempting to commit second-degree murder, followed by seven years of supervised probation for kidnapping. The sentence stemmed from an incident in late October 2024, when Noecker assaulted his pregnant partner, resulting in the death of her unborn child.
The investigation revealed that the victim, who was approximately nine weeks pregnant at the time, had recently learned of her pregnancy and was excited about having the child. However, during a fight with Noecker in the days following the revelation, he became angry and stated he would, “give her an abortion,” before repeatedly stomping on her stomach.
The victim went to the hospital after the assault, but the unborn baby did not survive. A medical review was unable to determine whether the death was caused by a miscarriage prior to the assault or as a result of the attack. Noecker was charged with attempted second-degree murder, as it was believed that the baby was still alive at the time of the assault.