Habitual offender arrested anew, this time for allegedly beating up his two children

Habitual offender Mario Muna Reyes was arrested again on Wednesday night in As Perdido for allegedly beating up his two minor children.

Reyes, 46, was arrested on charges of child abuse, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.

At a hearing yesterday, Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo imposed a $10,000 cash bail.

Preliminary hearing will be on March 14 at 9am.

Assistant public defender Matthew Meyer was appointed as counsel for Reyes. Assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas appeared for the government.

Police Detective Peter A. Aldan stated in his report that two police officers responded to the Reyes’ family compound in As Lito after the Department of Public Safety Central received a call about a child abuse incident on Friday night.

When the officers arrived, they observed the two minors and their mother all appeared terrified.

Reyes was not at the scene after he fled to the back of the house then climbed on top of the roof at a neighbor’s house.

Aldan said investigation showed that Reyes called his son, who was at their neighbor’s house, and confronted him for not putting the trashcan back in its place.

When the boy put the trash can in its place, Reyes asked if he was joking with him.

Reyes then allegedly kicked the trashcan and struck his son in the lower part of his face with his right palm and with an Armor All bottle on the right face.

Reyes later turned to his daughter, told her she’s very lazy, then slapped her on the face. He grabbed her hair, lifted her off the floor, and slammed her down on the couch.

The girl’s head struck the frame of the couch, causing her to feel dizzy and fall off the couch. He then slapped her again while she was still on the floor, police said.

When his girlfriend came out of the room, Reyes shouted at her to go back inside or else he would beat her up too.

The daughter made an excuse to go buy ice, but called the police from her grandmother’s house.

In July 2011, Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja slapped Reyes with two years and six months in prison for violating probation conditions.

“Your prior convictions are overwhelming!” Naraja told Reyes.

Then assistant attorney general Shelli Neal described Reyes as a batterer and violent man and that placing him on probation does not work.