Probable cause seen to charge man in mauling

The Superior Court found probable cause yesterday to warrant the filing of charges against an ex-convict who was the companion of a man fatally shot by a police officer.

During the preliminary hearing, Associate Judge David A. Wiseman said there is probable cause that the charges of two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of aggravated assault and battery were committed.

Wiseman ordered 22-year-old Oncho A. Alafonso to answer the charges.

Alafonso, through court-appointed counsel Robert T. Torres, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court set the status conference for Feb. 1, 2006.

Detective Jess Seman testified during the hearing. Assistant Attorney General Wilhelm Bierman appeared for the government.

Alafonso was originally arrested on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, criminal mischief, and disturbing the peace.

The court imposed a $100,000 cash bail for the defendant’s temporary liberty.

The Attorney General’s Office then filed an information charging the defendant with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly assaulting Ernie S. Rangamar and his father, Ralph Rangamar, using a 2”x4” piece of lumber on Dec. 11, 2005.

The AGO also charged Alafonso with aggravated assault and battery for allegedly seriously injuring Ernie Rangamar.

Detective Christopher Leon Guerrero earlier testified in court that Alafonso and his companion Donnald Sewel beat up Ernie and Ralph Rangamar outside the Rangamars’ residence.

Leon Guerrero said when responding police officers arrived, Ernie Rangamar was unconscious on the ground.

Ernie Rangamar suffered a 15-cm. laceration on top of the head, and other lacerations and abrasions to the head, knees and shoulders.

Ralph Rangamar was also treated for abrasions to the elbows and different parts of the body.

The detective said that earlier that night, Alafonso and Sewel went to the Rangamars’ house, demanding that they open the door and asking for a fight against a certain person. It was not immediately clear who it was they were after.

Witnesses said they later saw Alafonso and Sewel beating up Ernie Rangamar on the road. The fight escalated from the road to the Rangamars’ residence when Ernie Rangamar ran to the house.

One of the two men repeatedly punched and kicked Ernie Rangamar, while the second suspect repeatedly hit the victim with the lumber.

Ralph Rangamar tried to stop the suspects from beating up his son. He was pushed while one suspect repeatedly hit him with the lumber, police said.

PO1 Santos reportedly shot Sewel after the suspect tried to attack him with a piece of lumber. Santos was among three police officers who responded to the fight.

The AGO concluded that the fatal shooting was justified under the circumstances.