Bobbitt will face probation hearing in Northern Nevada

Keith Paul

Thursday, May 16, 2002 | 9:55 a.m.

John Wayne Bobbitt, who became famous when his first wife cut off his penis while he slept in 1993, will return to Northern Nevada for a court hearing that could send him to jail for up to three years, state officials told the Sun Wednesday.

Bobbitt, who was arrested Monday in Las Vegas on a domestic battery charge, will remain in the Clark County jail on a probation violation charge. He will be returned to the Churchill County District Court, where a judge sentenced him to five years' probation in 1999.

"The judge could revoke his probation then the original sentence of a year to three years could be imposed," said Ed Henderson, Nevada Department of Parole and Probation district administrator.

Bobbitt will likely remain in the Clark County jail until the misdemeanor domestic battery charge is resolved, and then be transported to Fallon for the probation violation hearing.

He was sentenced to probation after he pleaded guilty in 1999 to attempted grand larceny in connection with $140,000 worth of clothing stolen from a now-closed store in Fallon in 1997. He was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution.

According to a Metro Police report on Monday's arrest, Bobbitt's new wife, Joanne Forcinel, 31, called 911 saying she needed medical attention.

An argument started after Forcinel told Bobbitt she didn't want to go to the boxing match in California. Then Forcinel went back into the garage, where Bobbitt was, and told him "I was leaving him. It was over," according to a police report.

"As soon as I said that, John Wayne Bobbitt, my husband, became physical with me," Forcinel said in the report. "He picked me up off my feet and threw me hard down on the concrete floor of the garage."

The 6-foot, 200-pound Bobbitt is accused of hitting the 5-foot-8, 120-pound Forcinel in the buttocks with his knee.