EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. – A man who had been previously convicted of felony domestic violence four times and has served three prior prison terms for domestic violence is now looking at 25 years to life for his latest crime.

Michael Craig Henson was found guilty by a South Lake Tahoe jury on April 16 for Felony False Imprisonment by Violence of Menace, Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Felony Domestic Violence, Felony Criminal Threats, Misdemeanor Assault, and Misdemeanor Resisting Arrest. This is a third strike on Henson, who had two prior strike convictions. He now faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

At approximately 1:23 a.m. on January 8, 2025, officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department were dispatched to the Turn 3 Bar in response to a report of a domestic battery that had just occurred. The victim had escaped her captor, Henson, and ran across the street to the bar to get help. She used a bartender’s cellphone to call the police and reported that Henson had been beating her all night, kicking her, and poking her with a knife.

Officers contacted the victim inside the bathroom of the Turn 3 Bar. She was crying and appeared to be injured. She reported that the defendant had headbutted her a week earlier, causing a visible bruise on her forehead. She told officers that on the night of January 7, the defendant forced her to sit on the kitchen floor for hours. During that time, he threatened to kill her, cut her head off, and dismember her, stating he would put her in the freezer if she moved.  The defendant threw food items, a large water dispenser, and glass at the victim while she sat on the kitchen floor. He also poked her with a large kitchen knife on her head and leg, causing a laceration.  He kicked her in the face, causing pain to her eye. The victim also had fresh bruises on her legs. After enduring hours of abuse by Henson, she was able to escape and run across the street to the bar, where she sought help from police.

When contacted by officers, the defendant disobeyed commands, attempted to flee, and was found in possession of multiple folding knives.  He has been jailed since then on $1,500,000 bail.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Pippa Temple and investigated by South Lake Tahoe Police Department Officers Kallstrom, Cable, and Wallace. The trial was heard in Department 3 before the Honorable Judge Michael McLaughlin. The parties are scheduled to return for further proceedings ahead of sentencing on April 28, 2025.