Man pleads guilty to suffocating girlfriend

A man who allegedly beat up his girlfriend and threatened to kill her and her 2-year-old son pleaded guilty in court last week.

Lawson Santiago Renguul Jr., 26, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault and battery-domestic violence and one count of unlawful contact as part of a plea deal. He will be sentenced on May 31, 2017.

The Office of the Attorney General first charged Renggul last Aug. 31 with six charges that carried a maximum sentence of nine years imprisonment. The following day, the OAG amended the charges to eight, which carried a total maximum sentence of 25 years imprisonment. On the same day, Sept. 1, the OAG again amended the charges to seven, which carried a total maximum sentence of 15 years.

Last Wednesday, the OAG amended the charges anew to four, which carry a total maximum sentence of four years in prison. On the same day, Wednesday, the OAG amended the charges to four to reflect that count 4 assault and battery-domestic violence is a lesser-included offense for the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon. The charges still carry a maximum sentence of four years.

Renguul allegedly dragged, choked his girlfriend, suffocated her with a pillow, and threatened her son’s and her life at their apartment on Capital Hill. Renguul has no prior convictions.

After the hearing, he was remanded into the custody of the Department of Corrections pending his sentencing.

Renguul brandished and struck the victim in the stomach with a knife during their argument on Aug. 2, 2016, on Saipan. On Aug. 18, 2016, he placed the victim in a headlock.

Renguul was arrested on Aug 19, 2016. He was later released, as police were still doing further investigation.

After his release on Aug. 20, Renguul went to the victim’s home, located the victim in her vehicle, jumped on the hood, and threatened to cause her injury. Renguul entered the vehicle and removed her son from the vehicle against her will and while she was on the phone with the police.

Renguul attempted to communicate to the victim with the intent of encouraging her to drop the charges, or not cooperate with the investigation or prosecution of the case.

Police detective Vincent A. Igisaiar stated in his report that he heard the shouting and screaming as the victim remained on the phone. The detective immediately reported the matter to the Department of Public Safety’s Central. Two officers responded and arrested Renguul on Aug. 20, 2016, at 2:10pm.

Assistant attorney general Betsy Weintraub represented the government. Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig served as counsel for Renguul.