Man beat wife in front of son, caused traumatic brain injury, SC prosecutor says
A South Carolina man is going to prison after he recently was convicted of multiple crimes, including one for beating his wife in front of their young son, according to the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
On Feb. 5, Robert James Norris Jr., 46, pleaded guilty to domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, unlawful conduct toward a child and possession of an illegal weapon, the solicitor’s office said Monday in a news release.
Judge Heath Taylor sentenced Norris to 15 years, suspended to eight years in a South Carolina Department of Corrections prison, according to the release. Norris must also complete five years of probation with domestic violence and mental health counseling, the solicitor’s office said.
On Aug. 19, 2023, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to Norris’ home after neighbors could hear him screaming threats at his wife, according to the release. The neighbors recorded the incident and called 911.
Deputies found the victim with a severe head injury that temporarily blinded her, and medical records confirmed that she suffered a traumatic brain injury, the solicitor’s office said.
Further information on the victim’s condition was not available.
Norris wasn’t at the home when deputies arrived, but a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division helicopter soon located the wanted man, according to the release.
Norris’ child later completed a forensic interview at a Children’s Advocacy Center and described the domestic violence he witnessed that night and on other occasions, the solicitor’s office said. Norris repeatedly abused his wife in front of the child, according to the solicitor’s office.
Norris pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful conduct toward a child for verbally and physically abusing his wife in the presence of their son in January 2022, according to the release. Footage of the event captured the child’s distress, the solicitor’s office said.
Deputies discovered Norris owned a modified, or sawed-off, shotgun and recovered the illegal firearm from his home.
Assistant Solicitor Allison Foster led the prosecution for the solicitor’s office.
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This story was originally published February 9, 2026 at 2:29 PM with the headline "Man beat wife in front of son, caused traumatic brain injury, SC prosecutor says."
