Wife said he raped her, saying sex was her duty because they were married

If convicted, Lehmeier, 28, faces up to seven years in prison and/or a $14,000 fine

A 28-year-old man has been accused of threatening to shoot his wife while she breastfed their baby in a string of abuse going back ten years, police say.

Nicholas George Lehmeier, of Cold Springs, faces one felony count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon - a firearm - in connection to an incident in July last year, reported CBS Minnesota.

The complaint against Legmeier was held by his wife Monday, who told police that she has been subjected to physical and verbal abuse for over ten years.

Deputies were called to their home on 2900 block of 151st Avenue, in Collegeville Township after reports of child abuse on February 8, reported WJON.

In her statement the wife also recalled the incident last year, when Legmeier allegedly took a 12-gauge shotgun, loaded it and pointed it at her while breastfeeding their four-month-old son.

She said she remembered him cocking the gun and pulling the trigger about three to four feet from her, but it didn’t go off, says CBS.

She believed he was going to kill her but he then fired the gun out of a window.

Lehmeier (eft) , of Cold Springs, faces one felony count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon - a firearm - in connection to an incident in July last year. Pictured right: Municipal Building, Cold Spring Village

The incident allegedly happened the first night they were able to bring their child home after they had had their five children removed from their home due to a prior incident, where Lehmeier was charged and convicted with assaulting their seven-year-old child.

The terrified mother says she hadn't told authorities before because she had been 'too afraid'.

She added that he 'always' threatened to kill her or the children.

He is also accused of raping her and after he told her 'because they were married she had to have sex with him'.

If convicted, Lehmeier faces up to seven years in prison and/or a $14,000 fine