As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and other media, Mason Mayer, the brother of Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, threatened to use the "power and influence" of his family if his former girlfriend spoke up about his alleged domestic violence.
K.T., 31, has since come forward, two months after Mayer, 34, threatened to release nude photographs of her. She claimed that the delay was also in part of being fearful of further domestic abuse.
Mayer, arrested and charged with domestic violence for allegedly beating K.T. in his San Francisco apartment, has changed his plea. In a plea agreement with prosecutors he now pleaded guilty to misdemeanor false imprisonment.
Judge Bruce Chan placed Mayer on a three-year probation.
His arrest, on November 28, was for assault, false imprisonment and domestic violence – three felonies. If he had been convicted he would have faced up to five years in prison.
The spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, Stephanie Ong Stillman, said that prosecutors agreed to the plea agreement – so that the victim would not be put through a trial and so that she would be able to go on with her life.
Details of the couple's 10-month long relationship was revealed in K.T.'s victim impact statement. Included in the report, and read in court, were the events that occurred on Sept 24, 2011 – the date that Mayer allegedly beat her and told her he would kill her.
The statement read, "He ripped out my earrings, tore my eyelashes off, while spitting in my face and telling me how unlovable I am. I was on the ground in the fetal position, and when I tried to move, he squeezed both knees tighter into my sides to restrain me and slapped me."
The attack included slamming her head on the ground numerous times, pulling out chunks of her hair, a bloody eye and a bruised face. The victim took photographs of herself following the beating to document it.
Mayer allegedly threatened K.T. by saying that she could leave his apartment – by way of the Golden Gate Bridge, "where you can jump off or I will push you off."
During the beating Mayer received a phone call, and once he answered it K.T. called out for help.
From September until November K.T. waited to report the beating to the police. She claimed that Mayer promised to publish compromising photos of her. Mayer also started "a campaign" designed to make "sure that people had to choose either the side of his extremely wealthy and powerful family or me. He did his best to make me an outcast in the city I call home. He accepted no responsibility for his actions."
Mayer elicited no response when K.T.'s statement was read.
Mayer's attorney said that Mayer admitted to "holding her arms and restraining her movement" on the night in question.
Los Angeles-based attorney Gloria Allred represented K.T. Allred said that her client showed "enormous courage" in stepping forward to face her abuser.
If you have faced domestic violence, begin to move forward with your life when you contact a family law attorney and charges are filed against our abuser.