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Man pleads guilty to choking girlfriend
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Posted on Dec 17 2020
A man who allegedly choked his girlfriend and hurt a 1-year-old boy while drunk has pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison, all suspended except for 15 days, and was given credit for nine days of time served.
John Rasiang, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of assault and battery before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho. Rasiang must serve the remainder of his sentence day to day at the Department of Corrections without the possibility of parole. Upon his release from prison, Rasiang will begin 24 months of probation, and must not have any harmful or threatening contact with the victim. He is also required to pay $25 in court costs and $120 a year for probation at least two months before the end of his probation. Rasiang must also serve 50 hours of community service, to be completed 30 days before the expiration of his probation.
He is not allowed to consume any illegal controlled substances, and must obey all CNMI and federal laws or risk having his probation revoked and face contempt of court charges.
In addition, Rasiang is required to submit to an alcohol evaluation by the Office of Adult Probation and abide by and complete any treatment recommended by the office.
He is required to continue counseling, complete parenting classes, and obey all rules of the Office of Adult Probation.
According to court documents, Rasiang was arrested in August for hitting, grabbing, and pushing to the ground a female household member.
Rasiang told authorities that he has no memory of what happened and that he had blacked out.
He and his family had gone out to a farm where they ate, drank beer, and played cards. He said he had drunk about a dozen cans of beer, and the last thing he recalled was preparing to leave the farm.
He later woke up at Coral Ocean Point beach in his vehicle, then drove to a store where he was picked up by authorities for child abuse or neglect, strangulation, and disturbing the peace.
