Baraga Woman Sentenced for Biting Off Victim’s Nose

MARQUETTE, MI—U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis announced today that Donalyn Lynette Taisto, 41, of Baraga, Michigan, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. In addition to the prison term, Senior U.S. District Judge R. Allan Edgar ordered Taisto to serve three years of supervised release following her release from prison, and to pay a $100 special assessment. A final determination of restitution in the case was deferred until April 2, 2012.

On October 21, 2011, Taisto pleaded guilty to count three of an indictment charging her with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Counts one and two, alleging assault with a dangerous weapon, were dismissed at sentencing. The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on April 21, 2011, in Baraga County on the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community reservation. During the course of the early morning hours on April 21, an altercation began between Ms. Taisto and the victim, during which she bit off the tip of the victim’s nose, struck him with a lamp, and cut him with a knife. This assault left the victim permanently disfigured.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D. Lochner and investigated by the Keweenaw Bay Tribal Police, the Village of Baraga Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.