Man allegedly punches ex-girlfriend, steals her phone

Probable cause has been found to charge a man who allegedly punched his former girlfriend in the face in front of her child. He also allegedly demanded $100 from her in exchange for her cellphone that he had stolen.

At a preliminary hearing yesterday, Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio determined there was probable cause to charge Peter John Castro Tudela, 24, with aggravated assault and battery and disturbing the peace.

Arraignment will be on Aug. 3 at 9am.

Assistant attorney general Barbara Cepeda called to the witness stand police officers John Santos and Edwin Aguon, who were among the police officers who responded to the Saipan World Resort in Susupe, where the alleged beating happened last Thursday.

Assistant public defender Michael Sato appeared as counsel for Tudela.

Police said the victim lost consciousness and suffered a laceration above her left eyebrow that required six stitches.

Police detective Dee Liza S. Udui stated in her report that when the victim regained consciousness, she felt blood running down her face so she drove herself to the hospital, where she reported the incident to police.

During an interview by a police officer at the Commonwealth Health Center’s emergency room, the victim stated that prior to the incident, Tudela sent her a text that read, “Come to my work or I will find you.”

The victim went to World Resort, where Tudela works, but he was not there. A co-worker informed her that Tudela went to Bank of Guam in Chalan Piao so she followed him there. The two then agreed to meet at World Resort.

At the World Resort’s parking lot, Tudela got inside the victim’s car and allegedly apologized for stealing her purse last July 11 at the True North Bar in Garapan.

Tudela then allegedly asked for money but the victim refused to give him any as she is raising two children. The report did not mention whether the defendant is the father of the two children.

Tudela then left to return to work but he allegedly secretly took the victim’s cellphone. When she noticed that her phone was missing, she took her son inside the hotel, where she confronted him for taking her phone.

Tudela denied taking the phone so she asked the hotel’s security guard to check Tudela’s locker. The guard, however, was unable to help her.

While standing in front of the entrance to the Wave Jungle, Tudela demanded $100 from her in exchange for her phone. She offered $80 and Tudela agreed to give the phone back. Tudela left and then came back with the phone. He, however, refused to give the phone if she would not give him $20 more.

When she refused, Tudela threw the phone next to her car. The victim took her son, picked up the phone and left the area in her car. As she was reversing the car, she heard a thump on her window. Her car’s door opened and heard Tudela shouting profanities at her. When she turned to look, Tudela punched her in the face. She blacked out for a minute or two and was awakened because her son was screaming and crying. She then proceeded to the hospital.

At 2:31pm that same day, two police officers responded to the World Resort where they arrested Tudela and brought him to the Department of Corrections.