Woman sentenced for ripping out boyfriend's genital
By CHRISTIAN BOTTORFF, The Tennessean
A Nashville woman will spend almost three months in a Metro jail after pleading guilty to using her fingernails to rip off one of her boyfriend's testicles in an attack last year.
Aretha Oneal, 38, was sentenced to 81 days and will be eligible for early release if she completes a 45-day counseling program that deals with issues such as anger management. She pleaded guilty to assault.
The victim, Dennis Ross, of the 1000 block of Jackson Street, said he continued to live with Oneal after the June 2001 incident.
Ross said in an interview that he plans to marry Oneal after she is released from custody. She pleaded guilty to assault.
''I love that girl,'' Ross said. ''That's my heart, my soul, and that's my better half. I told the (District Attorney) the other day I'm not prosecuting her.''
The Davidson County district attorney's office prosecuted the case because Tennessee law requires charges to be levied when there is evidence of domestic violence, said Susan Tucker, a victim witness coordinator.
The 2001 incident was revealed after officers responded to the residence on Sept. 23, when Oneal called to report an argument, police said.
That's when police noticed Oneal had an outstanding warrant for her arrest, filed after Ross, 44, a backhoe driver, reported his assault last year.
According to police records and to Ross, Oneal attacked Ross on June 16, 2001, as he slept in his bed. The couple had argued after Ross returned to his residence after a sexual encounter with another woman, Ross said.
Ross said he went to Metro General Hospital, where the testicle was reattached. He said he is completely healed.