Habitual offender gets 1 year in prison for throwing rocks

Nestor Camacho Taitano, a habitual offender who was arrested in March for throwing rocks at a store and threatening to kill people, was slapped with a one-year prison term yesterday.

Citing Taitano’s long criminal history, Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman called the 39-year-old Taitano a “menace to society” who deserves the maximum prison term.

Wiseman sentenced Taitano to a total of one year in prison, for two counts of assault and one count of disturbing the peace.

Taitano will serve prison term day for day without the possibility of parole, early release, weekend release, or similar programs.

After completing his sentence, Taitano will be placed on supervised probation for five years. He was ordered to pay a $200 fine, $25 court costs, and $500 in probation fees. He was required to perform 200 hours of community service and pay restitution to Jin Lin Store in Dandan. The amount will be determined later.

Taitano was required to report to the Community Guidance Center for anger management counseling and other recommended treatment.

He was also ordered to submit to the Community Guidance Center for an evaluation focusing on alcohol and drug assessment treatment.

The Office of the Attorney General had charged Taitano with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of criminal mischief, three counts of assault, and two counts of disturbing the peace.

Taitano and counsel, assistant public defender Matthew Meyer, signed a plea deal with the government, represented by assistant attorney general Chemere McField.

Taitano pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one count of disturbing the peace. As part of the deal, the government dropped the remaining charges.

According to the plea agreement, on March 14, 2014, Taitano threw large rocks and hollow blocks at the glass door of the Jin Li Store in Dandan. He then entered the store and threw large rocks and hollow blocks at the cashier and a customer.

At an arraignment hearing on April 14, Taitano cursed at Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja.

As a court marshal escorted him out of the courtroom, Taitano badmouthed the marshal and became belligerent. Other marshals came to the aid of the court marshal and a Department of Corrections officer.

Police learned that Taitano had threatened to kill his mother, some family members, and everyone else. He also allegedly made a threat that he would kill U.S. District Court Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona.