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Teen gets 7 days for punching cousin
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Posted on Dec 23 2011
Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja has imposed a seven-day prison term on a Tinian teenager who beat up his cousin inside a car’s trunk out of jealousy.
In a written order issued Monday, Naraja sentenced 18-year-old Demetrius H. Pettis to a year in prison, all suspended except for seven days, for assault and battery, with credit for the two days he has already served in jail.
The judge ordered Pettis to start serving the remaining five days of his sentence on Saipan on Jan. 6, 2012, at 5pm.
He will pay for the expense associated with traveling to and from the Saipan prison.
After completing his sentence, Pettis will be placed on probation for two years. He was ordered to pay a $100 fine, $200 probation fee, and $25 court assessment fee.
Naraja ordered Pettis to pay his cousin and another victim in a separate case restitution in an amount not to exceed $250 to cover the cost of any medical fees associated with their injuries as a result of the assault.
Naraja also required Pettis to perform 50 hours of community service, complete any recommended counseling at the Community Guidance Center, and write a letter of apology to his three victims in the two assault cases.
Pettis is prohibited from consuming any alcoholic beverages.
Pettis pleaded guilty to assault and battery. The remaining charges, including in the other case, were dismissed.
Pettis repeatedly punched his 14-year-old cousin in the face on June 10, 2011.
Last June 26, the victim’s mother, who flew from Hawaii after learning about the beating, called Saipan Tribune and disclosed the beating of his son, saying then that the Tinian police have yet to arrest the suspect.
Tinian police finally arrested Pettis on July 1.
Police said when the officers responded to Huang Shun Supermarket on June 10 at 10:13pm after receiving a call about a disturbance, they observed the victim sitting in a parked car and crying. The officers noticed bruising and swelling under the boy’s right eye.
Police said investigation showed that Pettis attacked the victim in a jealous rage after learning that his girlfriend had gone out with the victim and other friends.
Police said Pettis also previously assaulted another person on Tinian.
