Actor's Prison Sentence
Actor Nick Pasqual receives 32 years to life for stabbing ex-girlfriend Allie Shehorn.
Actor Nick Pasqual, known for a minor role in "How I Met Your Mother," was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison on June 2, 2026, for the near-fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend Allie Shehorn. A jury convicted him on all six counts, including attempted murder, forcible rape, and first-degree burglary, according to Daily News.
The attack took place on May 23, 2024, at 4:30 a.m. in Sunland, California. Pasqual broke into Shehorn's home and stabbed her more than 20 times in the neck, chest, back, and abdomen. She survived after 14 hours of emergency surgery, but suffered permanent nerve damage in her hands and partial vision loss, The Press Enterprise reported.
A Brutal Attack Just Days After Bail Was Granted
On May 18, 2024, police arrested Pasqual on a felony domestic violence charge. He was released just five hours later after posting a $50,000 bond, according to Daily Breeze. Two days later, Shehorn got a temporary restraining order against him. It did not hold. Three days after that, Pasqual showed up at her home before dawn.
He punched through multiple locked doors to reach Shehorn hiding in a bathroom. Her roommate, Christine White, found her in a pool of blood and applied a makeshift tourniquet to her neck. "It wasn't a pretty sight," White testified. "This should not happen to anyone." Shehorn's medical bills topped $100,000, with supporters raising money through a GoFundMe campaign, OC Register reported.
Pasqual Fled Toward Mexico Before Arrest at Texas Checkpoint
After the attack, Pasqual fled California. On May 29, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped him at a checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas, as he tried to cross into Mexico. Authorities issued a post-attack warrant with bail set at $1,075,000 — more than 20 times the original $50,000 bond, according to Press Telegram.
The flight attempt drew sharp criticism from victim advocates. Friend and advocate Jed Dornoff said plainly, "As soon as he paid his bail, he came after her." Critics argued that strangulation and prior rape — both known to authorities — were clear signs of high danger that should have meant no bail at all.
Shehorn Speaks Out, Calls Her Scars "Symbols of Survival"
Shehorn, 37, is an award-winning special effects makeup artist who worked on films including *Babylon* and *Mean Girls*. She and Pasqual met on the set of Zack Snyder's *Rebel Moon* in early 2023. In her victim impact statement at sentencing, she told the court: "I now view my scars as symbols of survival rather than shame," according to San Bernardino Sun.
On May 26, 2026, days before sentencing, Shehorn filed a 17-page civil lawsuit against Pasqual for sexual battery, gender violence, and negligence. The jury had convicted him on May 8, 2026, after a multi-week trial at the San Fernando Courthouse. He was found guilty on every count. Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón called the case "a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence."
Case Exposes Bail Gaps and Drives New California Laws
Legal analysts say the rape conviction from April 2024 — a full month before the stabbing — was key to the life sentence. It showed a pattern of control, not a single burst of anger. Advocates say the case is a clear example of a systemic failure: Shehorn reported abuse, got a restraining order, and still nearly died, according to Daily Breeze.
The case pushed California to act. In 2025, the state passed AB 2308, extending the maximum length of domestic violence protective orders from 10 to 15 years. It also passed AB 406, which gives survivors paid time off to attend court hearings without fear of losing their jobs. Over 30,000 restraining orders are issued in California each year, and an estimated 20% are linked to an escalation of violence.
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