Fallen NY 1 political anchor Dominic Carter went from “Inside City Hall” to “Inside the Rockland County Jail” today.
Carter, 45, dramatically wept as he was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to stay away from his wife Marilyn for two years for having punched, kicked and choked her at their home in October 2008.
A Rockland County judge also sentenced Carter — who was immediately taken into custody — to one year of probation and to undergo 52 domestic violence classes for the attempted assault conviction.
The disgraced TV journalist, whom Marilyn has over the years repeatedly acccused of physical and verbal abuse, now is barred from going anywhere near her for two years unless a psychologists assures the judge that he his well enough to do so, and prescribes medication to Carter.
Judge Arnold Etelson cited a slew of police reports detailing that prior abuse when he added the “stay-away” order to the sentence requested by a prosecutor in Ramapo Justice Court.
“Mr. Carter, don’t mess with the American judicial system,” Etelson said.”You have demonstrated the classic case of a marital abuser.”
Etelson gave Carter a photocopy of a New York magazine article about actor Matt Damon that cited Damon’s views on honesty and humility — two traits the judge said Carter should focus on.
The judge also gave Marilyn a sticker bearing the words “Attitude Makes the Difference,” which he said she should place on her home’s bathroom mirror as a reminder for Dominic when he returns home.
The judge, referring to what Carter allegedly had called Marilyn before beating her in October 2008, said, “She’s not a ‘dumb project bitch.’ When are you going to wake up?”
Stunningly, Etelson, as he addressed both Carter and his wife, said, “Someday, you both will thank me.”
That criminal sentence caps a abrupt fall from grace from Carter, who for years had dealt with the biggest political luminaries in New York City and State on his show on NY 1. That Time Warner cable network, which had suspended him when this case came to light last fall, recently let his contract expire without re-signing him.
“I’m sorry to my wife for not being a better husband,” Carter told Etelson. “This has been humbling and humiliating.”
“I beg for mercy. This has torn our family apart. I don’t have a job and we are going to lose our house.”
Carter cited his tough upbringing, which included horrific abuse by his mentally ill mom, and being raised by relatives, and also noted aid that he has given people as an adult.
As he was handcuffed by court sheriffs with tears in his eyes after Etelson denied a request to stay the sentence, Carter he said to his 21-year-old daughter, “Courtney, I’m counting on you, I need you to be a big girl.”
Marilyn was dry-eyed as she asked Judge Etelson for leniency for Carter.
“I can’t express how this family has suffered for the past few months,” said Marilyn, a 52-year-old college administrator. “How do I get up in the morning? How does my husband get up in the morning. More problems have been caused by this whole trial.”
“I think he’s been punished more than enough.”
Carter’s lawyer, Martin Gotkin, called the sentence “nearly draconian.” Another defense lawyer, Julie Kwan, called it a “miscarriage of justice,” noting that the incidents cited by the judge never led to criminal charges or convictions.
The defense team said it would seek a stay of the sentence from an appellate division Friday, and also would appeal the conviction.
Carter was charged in late 2008 with having attacked Marilyn in their Pomona, NY, home that October during an argument over medical treatment for their now-17-year-old son Dominic Jr., who suffers from epilepsy.
Despite Carter’s high-profile status, the case remained out of the public eye until last October, when The Post uncovered details of that case — as well as multiple other police reports detailing alleged domestic violence against Marilyn dating to 2003.
Carter was convicted of attempted assault in November after a bench-trial at which Marilyn testified that she had lied when she told cops that her husband had beaten her, and that she had actually been assaulted by a day laborer whom she hired after merely verbally arguing with Dominic.
Etelson, in convicting Carter, called Marilyn’s day-laborer tale “preposterous” and said it was clear that the husband had beat her. But Etelson also found that Marilyn’s physical injuries were not severe enough to sustain the original charge of assault, which is why he convicted Carter of the lesser attempted assault count.
Today, Etelson said, “I don’t believe for one moment that it was her brainchild to come up with the story of another attacker. What you and Mrs. Carter presented in court was a lie.”
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