Man sentenced after attack in Novant Health NHRMC Emergency Room staff

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — At the New Hanover County courthouse on Monday, there was another guilty plea. 

Rothwell Jacob Simmons pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by strangulation and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.  

In 2022, Simmons attacked two victims at the emergency room at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where he was a patient at the time.  

Simmons will serve a sentence of more than 4 to about 7 years (58-82 months) for two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

Additionally, he will serve a suspended sentence of about six months to a year and half (5-15 months) for two counts of strangulation, along with 48 months of probation.

He is also required to comply with all mental health treatment and to not contact the victims or their families. 

Simmons received credit for 1,147 days or about 3 years.

In court, it was said that the two victims in the attack were employees. One victim lost consciousness and was placed in the ICU for some time, while the other sustained nerve damage and problems with her shoulder.

The defense agreed that the victims did nothing to provoke this attack, and it was “very unfortunate that this happened.”

It was not specified which mental health illnesses Simmons is battling, but the judge required him to seek any additional mental health and educational treatment.