MMA fighter Frank Schuman receives eight month jail sentence for domestic battery

TW: The following article describes incidents of domestic violence and spousal abuse which some readers may find disturbing.

Last month longtime King of The Cage (KOTC) veteran, and former title challenger, Frank Schuman was convicted on three counts of domestic battery. He was acquitted of eight other charges. All these charges were brought forward by Schuman’s ex-wife in May 2016.

News Watch 12 reported that Schuman, who is from Lac Du Flambeau, WI received an eight month jail sentence from Judge Michael Bloom on Tuesday. “These are full-blown instances of battery,” said Bloom during the sentencing hearing.

One of the charges Schuman was found guilty of was jamming an AR-15 rifle into his ex-wife’s eye socket and threatening to kill her. The other charges relate to incidents where Schuman pushed his ex-wife and caused her injury and where he dragged her by the hair while kicking her.

“Grabbing someone by the hair, dragging them, kicking them in the ribs, kicking them in the stomach, knocking them down with a firearm — that sort of conduct reflects bad character,” said Bloom.

Schuman’s ex-wife also spoke at the hearing, stating: “Frank is a serial abuser of women and children. I will never be the same. Frank has caused me irreparable harm. I can still feel what he did to me, hear the hate in his words.”

Prior to the Judge handing Schuman an eight-month sentence, which also includes three years of probation, Assistant Attorney General Robert Kaiser argued that the professional fighter should serve at least a year in state prison.

“He has skills above and beyond those of mortal persons to hurt other people,” said Kaiser. “He cannot be empowered to think that he’s going to be allowed to continue to exercise those powers. Today’s the day to send the message to him that he will not get away with what he has done for the last eight years.”

Schuman’s defense attorney Steve Lucareli told the court his client should not receive more jail time and that the 20 days he had already served should be sufficient. Lucareli also claimed that Schuman had received unfair treatment because of his chosen career.

“What’s happened to Mr. Schuman is because his profession is as an MMA fighter,” claimed Lucareli. “He’s been tarred with the claim that he’s a violent person. Now that the trial is over and the determination has been made, when does he get an opportunity to get his life back?”

During trial Lucareli also brought up Schuman’s abilities as a professional fighter. He told the jury that they shouldn’t believe Schuman’s ex-wife’s claims and questioned why her injuries weren’t more severe considering Schuman’s MMA training (per News Watch 12).

After being convicted of domestic battery, Schuman was immediately transferred to Vilas County Jail where he will serve his sentence.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic violence support can be found from the following organizations:

USA - The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Canada - DAWN-RAFH Canada

UK and Ireland - Women’s Aid: 0808-2000-247

Rest of the World - HotPeachPages