Man gets suspended sentence for domestic violence

A 22-year-old man, who pleaded guilty to hitting and injuring his girlfriend during an argument inside a car in Tanapag, was given a suspended sentence.

Elden Michael Dela Cruz was sentenced last week to one year in prison, all suspended, for the offense of domestic violence: assault and battery.

The remaining charge of domestic violence: disturbing the peace was dropped.

In a written order, Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio placed Dela Cruz on one year of probation and required him to complete batterer’s intervention counseling, submit to anger management counseling, and complete 150 hours of community service.

During his probation, Dela Cruz is prohibited from possessing or consuming any alcoholic beverages and controlled substances.

Dela Cruz was ordered to pay $319 in restitution to the victim, $100 fine, $25 in court assessment fee, plus probation fee.

According to police, Dela Cruz hit the victim on Aug. 7, 2017, on Saipan.

Assistant attorney general Jonathan Robert Glass Jr. prosecuted the case.

Defense counsel Janet H. King said the case involves an allegation between a young couple who were in a year-long relationship, and that the defendant allegedly assaulted the girlfriend in his car at her home in Tanapag.

King said the girlfriend alleges that Dela Cruz hit her during the argument and caused physical injuries.

The girlfriend claimed that Dela Cruz had been abusive throughout their relationship.

King said that on that day of Aug. 7, Dela Cruz drove his girlfriend to her parents’ home in Tanapag.

The driver, Dela Cruz, parked his car in front of his girlfriend’s parents’ residence. The couple had an argument, prompting her mother to come out and ask if everything was all right. The girlfriend told her mother everything was fine. But the couple continued to argue.

King said that during the argument, the girlfriend hit Dela Cruz in the face and grabbed his arm and bit him. Dela Cruz then tried to push her out of the car.

King said Dela Cruz did not initiate the altercation and he filed a complaint against his girlfriend. She said after the girlfriend learned about it, she filed a complaint against Dela Cruz.

King also said Dela Cruz has no history of violence and no charges or arrests of any kind.