La Plata, MD – Michael David Toder, 38 or La Plata, was sentenced to 18 months in the Charles County Detention Center for the Second-Degree Assault of his ex-wife Monday, Oct. 6 by Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier.

Toder’s Alford Plea resolved a case in which he was facing numerous charges including Assault-First Degree, Assault-Second Degree, Reckless Endangerment, Dangerous Weapon – Wear and Carry With Intent to Injure and a single charge of Theft Less Than $1,000.

Charles County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeremy B. Widder outlined the state’s case, stating that on Jan. 1, 2014, the defendant’s ex-wife, Laura Toder, was living in an apartment in La Plata when Toder showed up at 3 a.m. “drunk and angry” accusing her of sleeping with other men.

“In the kitchen, the defendant charged at her and she was able to get away from him by punching him in the face,” Widder stated.

The state noted that during the argument, Toder grabbed a plastic bag and wrapped it around his ex-wife’s face.

“She put her hands up between the bag and her face so she could breathe,” Widder said. “He said several times he was going to kill her.”

According to Widder, Toder then grabbed a vacuum machine cord and walked outside dragging the vacuum cleaner by the cord. The victim was able to get away and drove to a friend’s house before contacting police the next day.

Widder added that Toder was on probation at the time of the incident for First-Degree Arson and three counts of insurance fraud.

“The defense would make us believe this is about Laura Toder,” he said. “Our disposition has nothing to do with Laura. It has to do with the strength of our case. It is true that the relationship between these two people is not healthy. She is fearful of him.”

Laura Toder was allowed to speak before the court and asked the court that any matters involving her children between her and her former husband be conducted through a third-party arrangement, which Bragunier initially suggested and was made so.

Then Laura Toder directed most of her comments at her ex-husband. “Take these 18 months and make them about you,” she said. “You need to fix yourself.”

Bragunier then imposed her sentence of 10 years with all but 18 months suspended. Toder will serve his time in the Charles County Detention Center and was given credit for 132 days already served. Bragunier told him she would authorize work release, he needed to pay his child support, have no contact with his ex-wife and complete counseling at the Center for Abused Persons upon his release.

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com