Former Marine found guilty of attacking wife

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — A jury in North Carolina has convicted a former Marine corporal of attacking his sleeping, pregnant wife with a hammer.

The Daily News of Jacksonville reported that an Onslow County jury found Jonathan Gould guilty Wednesday afternoon of attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious bodily injury.

N.C. Superior Court Judge Jay D. Hockenbury sentenced Gould, who was stationed at Camp Lejeune, to 18 to 22 years in prison.

Erin Gould suffered permanent brain damage in the December 2008 attack. She also lost her unborn child.

Authorities said after Jonathan Gould beat his wife, he stabbed himself multiple times and fabricated a story about their home being robbed early Dec. 20. Investigators have said Gould late confessed to attacking his wife.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)