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Man who tried to strangle his wife gets 14 months
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Posted on May 11 2009
The Superior Court slapped yesterday a 14-month prison sentence on a man who strangled his wife in a jungle area near a police station on Tinian.
Associate Judge David A. Wiseman sentenced Peter A. Villagomez to five years in prison, all suspended except for 14 months.
Following a plea agreement, the 41-year-old Villagomez was given credit for the time he has already served in jail. This means Villagomez is expected to be released from prison by Dec. 20, 2009.
After completing his prison term, the defendant will be placed on probation and required to perform 200 hours of community service.
During the probationary period, Villagomez will be prohibited from drinking any alcoholic beverages.
The Attorney General’s Office charged Villagomez with attempted second-degree murder and attempted aggravated assault and battery.
The defendant and government lawyer Douglas Hartig signed a plea agreement.
Villagomez pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and battery. The remaining charge was dismissed.
The case arose from an incident in the early morning of Oct. 18, 2008, when the defendant choked his wife and threatened to kill her.
The assault resulted in his wife being brought to the hospital, but her injuries were not life-threatening.
Police said two witnesses, including an off-duty firefighter, saw Villagomez choking his wife on the side of the road and were able to stop him.
Witnesses said they thought someone has been run over by a vehicle so he and his companion got down from the car and saw two persons lying on the ground.
The victim said she was walking to her sister’s house when her husband followed her, beat her up, and dragged her to a jungle area.
The victim said she managed to run to the shoulder of the road, but Villagomez caught her and choked her again.
