Ashlie Ruth Clark pleads guilty to biting off an ear

A shoplifter has been convicted of biting off a security guard’s ear, prosecutors in Washington County, Oregon confirmed. Defendant Ashlie Ruth Clark, 31, faces five years and eight months behind bars after pleading guilty to second-degree assault and first-degree attempted robbery on Friday. She is also required to complete three years of post-prison supervision. Chief Justice John Collins delivered the verdict.

Authorities said Clark stole more than $800 worth of merchandise from the Nordstrom department store in Washington Square Mall on July 22, 2022.

Three security guards confronted her when she left without paying, they said.

“She physically fought back and yelled obscene comments as they attempted to recover the stolen items,” prosecutors wrote. “During the fight, she bit the earlobe of one of the loss prevention officers, removing at least half an inch of the victim’s earlobe.”

When police arrested them, she gave them a false name and date of birth, authorities said. However, law enforcement found that prosecutors said they had two outstanding arrest warrants against them.

“The victim went to the hospital and her earlobe could not be surgically reattached,” prosecutors said.

Prosecutors thanked the Nordstrom security team and others who helped with the investigation.

“The Washington District Attorney’s Office recognizes the work of the Tigard Police Department, the Nordstrom Loss Prevention Team and the Washington Square Mall Security Service for their assistance with this investigation,” the attorney general’s office said. “The defendant is being transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections for sentencing.”

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