Man found guilty of assault but not of biting another

A Superior Court jury reached a verdict yesterday that found a man guilty of assaulting another man with a knife and chair during a dispute over apartment rent in San Antonio, but not guilty of biting the victim’s hand.

The six jurors found 30-year-old Jiang Hong Sheng guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.

The three charges refer to Sheng’s assault on Ye Fang with a knife and hitting him on the head with a chair, and for physically attacking him and threatening to hurt and/or kill the victim and his family.

The incident happened at Fang’s home on June 6, 2017.

The jurors, however, determined that Sheng, also known as Jacky, was not guilty of offenses relating to Sheng allegedly biting Fang’s hand and of attacking the victim at his home that caused Fang’s wife, Lan Hua Wang, to run outside and yell for help.

Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo set the sentencing for Nov. 27 at 1:30pm. He ordered the Office of the Adult Probation to prepare a presentence investigation report.

Govendo commended the opposing counsels for making the trial run smoothly.

Assistant attorney general Robert “Charlie” Lee is the lead counsel for the government. Frances Demapan assisted Lee during the trial. Assistant public defender Nancy Dominski is counsel for Sheng.

Govendo said the government and the defense made a lot of stipulation, saving enormous amount of time, that Lee, Demapan, and Dominski should serve as a model for all attorneys in the CNMI for handling the trial.

“That’s the way it should be. It is beneficial to both of your clients,” Govendo said.

Assistant public defender Dominski refused to comment about the verdict.

Lee thanked the jurors, but refused to comment about the verdict.

The trial started last Monday, May 14. The prosecution called seven witnesses, while the defense called only one witness, Sheng. The jurors started deliberating Friday afternoon and continued it yesterday morning.

Fang has filed a separate civil case against Sheng for battery, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress over the same incident.

According to the complaint, Fang rents an apartment from Sheng in San Antonio. Fang lent Sheng $7,150 for a real estate investment.

On June 6, 2017, the two got into an argument because Sheng allegedly told Fang that he does not want to pay off the loan balance until Fang had moved out of the apartment building.

The argument escalated, leading to Sheng attacking Fang.