Ex-Boyfriend Gets 150-Day Jail Term in Spousal Battery

A Van Nuys man who once barricaded himself for 45 minutes in his girlfriend’s apartment was sentenced to 150 days in jail after pleading no contest to one count each of spousal battery, making a terrorist threat and resisting arrest, City Atty. James Hahn said.

Louis Hollingsworth, 23, also known as Paul Hollingsworth, was sentenced Monday to the jail time and three years summary probation by Van Nuys Municipal Commissioner Mitchell Block after entering his plea in connection with two 1995 incidents of domestic violence, said Deputy City Atty. Debra Siedorf, who handled the case.

Conditions of the probation include a year of domestic-violence counseling and an order to stay away from the victim--who was his longtime girlfriend--and their child, Siedorf said. Hollingsworth will begin serving the jail time immediately, she added.

In an Aug. 30 incident, Hollingsworth pushed the victim, a 33-year-old Van Nuys woman, outside the apartment during an argument about his drinking, Van Nuys Division police officers alleged.

Officers responded to a telephone call from the victim, but Hollingsworth was nowhere to be found, according to Siedorf.

A spousal battery charge resulted from the incident, but Hollingsworth missed a Dec. 14 court appearance and a warrant for his arrest was issued, Siedorf said.

On Jan. 2, Hollingsworth returned to the victim’s apartment, where he cut electrical and telephone lines and attacked the victim as she left the unit, the prosecutor said.

The woman fled to a neighbor’s home and called police, but Hollingsworth was gone before police arrived, authorities said. The same day, Hollingsworth threatened the victim a second time, police said, but again evaded arrest.

During a third stop at the apartment, Hollingsworth kicked a hole in the front door to gain entry, Siedorf said. The victim escaped by crawling out through the hole and again called police.

When officers arrived, Siedorf said, Hollingsworth barricaded himself inside the apartment for 45 minutes before surrendering.