Top harness driver pleads guilty to attacking estranged wife

September 14, 2004
RAVENNA, Ohio (AP) -- A top harness driver pleaded guilty Monday to
attacking his estranged wife with a steak knife at their home.
Walter Case Jr. entered his plea to a charge of felonious assault in
Portage County Common Pleas Court. He faces up to eight years in
prison. No sentencing date has been set.
Police said Case attacked his wife on June 22, punching and kicking
her until she ran from the couple's home. He chased her out into the
street and stabbed her, police said.

Nadine Case, 26, survived the beating that punctured one of her
lungs. She filed for divorce last month.
At the time of the attack, Nadine Case had moved out of the couple's
home in Streetsboro but had returned to pay her husband money she
owed him.
Last year, Case was convicted of disorderly conduct and other
charges, records show. He was sentenced to 90 days in a work-release
program and had treatment for anger management.
Case, harness racing's second all-time winning driver with 11,027
victories, surrendered his license to race last year after
accumulating 178 days of suspensions, most for violating the rule
that calls for a driver to keep both feet in the sulky stirrups.
In March, the Ohio State Racing Commission denied his request for
reinstatement.
Updated on Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004 1:53 am EDT