Man fractures pregnant girlfriend’s spine during argument, CA officials say

A man was found guilty in a 2022 attack that left his pregnant girlfriend with a fractured spine, California officials said.

In December 2022, 33-year-old Michael Anthony Calkins got into an argument with his girlfriend of 15 years while at her mom’s Menlo Park home, according to a June 13 news release by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Calkins left the home but later came back to get clothes, and the two began arguing again, prosecutors said.

That’s when Calkins picked the woman up, threw her over his shoulders and slammed her into the ground, the district attorney’s office said.

Then he left the home, prosecutors said.

The woman was unable to move and was sent to the hospital where it was determined that she had a fractured spine, four broken ribs, a concussion, a black eye and bruising to her jaw, prosecutors said.

A jury found Calkins guilty on charges of assault with the infliction of great bodily injury enhancement and domestic violence but was deadlocked on charges of mayhem, the district attorney’s office said.

Calkins remains in custody with no bail, prosecutors said.

San Mateo is about a 20-mile drive southeast from San Francisco.

This story was originally published June 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM with the headline "Man fractures pregnant girlfriend’s spine during argument, CA officials say."