Cedar Rapids man who beat man with vacuum tool sentenced to 10 years

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man, who broke into a home and assaulted a man with a vacuum attachment and then posted a video of it on Facebook, was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison.

Christopher E. Curley, 28, pleaded guilty last November to second-degree burglary and assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor. He was originally charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and willful injury.

Curley, according to a criminal complaint, broke into the home of Dominic Tommingo on June 16, 2021, by opening an unlatched window. He then “severely beat” Tommingo by repeatedly hitting him in the face with an attachment off a vacuum cleaner.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said Tommingo’s nose and right eye socket were fractured and he had a laceration on his head as a result of the beating. Tommingo suffered a concussion and has experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and vertigo since the attack, he said.

Curley also stole the victim’s cell phone during the assault.

The video posted to Facebook showed the beating and Curley threatening additional harm unless he surrendered his cell, police said.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Jason Besler suspended Curley’s $1,370 fine on the burglary charge but ordered him to pay the $430 fine on the serious misdemeanor and $1,125 in victim restitution.

The robbery charge was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

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