Carmel Man Convicted Of Christmas-Time Wife Abuse: Update

Editor's Note: This article has been updated from the original with new information from the Putnam County District Attorney.

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Carmel resident Jeff Hanlon, who attacked his wife with a crowbar Dec. 17, 2020 and pleaded guilty during trial in October to a charge of attempted assault, is now trying to withdraw his guilty plea, according to Putnam County District Attorney Robert Tendy.

"Although Mr. Hanlon plead guilty in November and was scheduled to be sentenced on December 14, he is currently requesting new counsel and has indicated he wants to withdraw his guilty plea," Tendy told Patch Tuesday. "The case is next on December 14 at 9:30 for new counsel to appear in court. Whether or not the defendant files a motion to withdraw his plea remains to be seen."

Hanlon had been verbally and physically abusing his wife for two days when she attempted to leave the residence, Tendy said in an October announcement about the verdict. As she was leaving, he hit her in the back of the head with a crowbar, which made a large cut on the back of her head.

She was eventually able to leave and fled to her father’s house in Pelham where the Pelham and Carmel Police Department responded, Tendy said.

Hanlon was arrested that night and had been in jail since.

The two top counts with which he was initially charged were Kidnapping in the Second Degree (B felony) and Attempted Assault in the first degree, a felony.

The trial began Oct. 17 before the Hon. Anthony Mole. Midway through, Hanlon pled guilty to Attempted Assault in the First Degree.

"Preventing domestic violence and bringing to justice those who perpetuate it is one of my top priorities," Tendy said at the time. "It can leave a lifetime of psychological scars on the victims and their families. In this case the victim was very brave and cooperated with the prosecution despite understandable personal fear."

If the guilty plea stands, he would serve eight years in state prison with five years post-release supervision.

In 2012, Hanlon was charged with assault after, police alleged, he pushed his wife out of a moving car while they were driving on Route 22 in Croton Falls. SEE: Police: Woman Pushed From Car During Fight with Husband