Salinas doctor pleads no contest to domestic violence

Dr. Richard Heiner, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Natividad Medical Center, pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence Thursday and admitted injuring his fiancee. The conviction counts as a violent strike.

The incident happened on April 13. Salinas police went to Heiner’s home for a welfare check on a suspected assault victim. When they got there, his fiancee answered the door.

Officers say they noticed she had several visible injuries and was bleeding on her face. She told them they had been drinking, and she got into an argument with him. She said when she tried to leave, he slammed the door, pinning her legs between the door and the doorframe. He then dragged her into the house and punched her seceral times.

After that, Heiner’s fiancee ran to the upstairs bedroom and locked herself inside. He used a knife to unlock the bedroom door. Once inside, he hit her with ankle weights used for exercise and strangled her. She defended herself by squeezing Heiner’s testicles and biting his lips.

As a result, the victim had a nose fracture as well as abraisons and swelling on her eyes, cheeks and forehead.

Heiner is facing seven years in prison. His sentencing is set for July 11.