An Elbert County man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after violently assaulting his wife in 2025.

Joseph Rivera, 43, was found guilty of first-degree felony assault and sentenced by District Court Judge Theresa Slade, according to a news release from the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

In July 2025, Elbert County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic violence call from the victim.

When officers arrived at the couple’s home in Bennett, they found the victim with scratch marks and bruises on her neck and swollen eyes. Her face was covered in blood and her clothes were covered in dirt, the release stated.

According to the victim, Rivera had called earlier and was upset over her “lack of support.” When he arrived home, the victim attempted to leave and Rivera began yelling and pushed her, according to the release.

The victim called 911 and ran out of the house, where Rivera tackled her. Investigators said he pulled her hair, strangled her and jumped on top of her. The victim told deputies the strangulation caused her to “see stars.”

The couple’s two children were inside the home during the attack, the release stated.

Rivera went inside the house when he heard a car approaching and was taken into custody by responding officers. He later admitted he had “a mental breakdown and snapped.”

The victim was transported to a hospital, where medical personnel determined she had “suffered serious bodily injury” and had faced “a substantial risk of death.”

Deputy District Attorney Joe Ratner, who prosecuted the case, praised the sentence and said the victim’s quick thinking may have saved her life.

“In the middle of the attack, the victim managed to call 9-1-1 and report the emergency,” Ratner said in the release. “That call likely saved her life. The evidence showed she was strangled and faced a substantial risk of death. The 20-year sentence imposed today reflects the seriousness of that violence.”

Rivera has an extensive criminal history, including several previous domestic violence convictions. He will not be eligible for parole for 17 years under a new Colorado law designed to punish violent offenders.

“In 2024, Colorado voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 128 by a nearly 2 to 1 margin denying parole to violent offenders like Rivera until they have served at least 85 percent of their earned sentences,” District Attorney George Brauchler said. “If it had not been for the efforts of Advance Colorado in getting this common-sense, pro-justice measure onto the ballot, the offender-friendly legislature would have allowed Rivera to be paroled in 50 percent of his sentence.”