Actor Nick Pasqual sentenced to 32 years to life for trying to kill estranged girlfriend in 2024
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Actor Nick Pasqual was sentenced Tuesday to 32 years to life in prison for the 2024 stabbing of his estranged girlfriend at her Sunland home.
Pasqual, who has appeared in various television shows including "How I Met Your Mother," was found guilty last month of attempted murder, first-degree residential burglary with person present and injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend or child's parent.
During Pasqual's trial, his former girlfriend, Hollywood make-up artist Allie Shehorn, took the witness stand with visible scars on her arm and neck.
During Tuesday's sentencing, she gave a powerful victim impact statement.
"When I was lying on the floor in a pool of my own blood, I remembered wondering if this was how my life was going to end," she said. "I was terrified, I was in pain."
"You, who I had once trusted, decided my life was something that you could take away," Shehorn added.
Shehorn had taken out a restraining order against him. She said the relationship had turned abusive.
In her testimony, she detailed a violent fight she says she had with Pasqual leading up to their break-up.
"I locked the door and he just started punching holes in that door and broke that open, and I just ran into the bathroom because I thought there's another lock on that door," she tearfully said.
The attack happened in May 2024, after Shehorn had ended the relationship. Prosecutors say Pasqual broke into her Sunland home, brutally beat her and repeatedly stabbed her. He was later arrested at a border checkpoint in Texas.
"To this day, I still have nightmares about the attack," Shehorn said.
Following emotional statements from Shehorn and her supporters, the judge gave Pasqual an opportunity to address the court.
"Allie did not deserve to almost have her life taken from her. No amount of words can form an adequate apology for what she had to endure," said Pasqual.
But the judge was not persuaded, referencing a recorded phone call Pasqual made to a friend just two months ago, calling into question the sincerity of his remorse.
"You stated that you feel remorse for what occurred, but my response to you is, if that's true, then why on April 29th during that phone call with your friend, did you mock Allie Shehorn for what she went through," the judge said. "The evidence showed that Allie's injuries were so catastrophic that she was clinically dead twice."
Following Tuesday's sentencing proceedings, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman released a statement that said, in part:
"Allie Shehorn miraculously survived and courageously stood before her abuser in court to testify about the brutality she endured. Her trial testimony was crucial in securing a guilty verdict so Mr. Pasqual could no longer be free to hurt anyone else...This case underscores the painful reality that domestic violence thrives when its victims live in fear and stay silent. It can erupt into life-threatening violence, and far too many victims never get the chance to see their abusers brought to justice."
Later on, representatives for Nick Pasqual issued the following statement on his behalf:
"I remain deeply saddened by everything surrounding this case, and I continue to wish healing and peace for everyone affected. I am grateful to those who have supported me during this process, and I intend to remain focused on sobriety, recovery, accountability, and a respectful appellate process moving forward."
