Man gets 2 yrs. for beating wife, forcing her to eat from floor

Superior Court Associate Judge Ramona Villagomez Manglona has imposed a two-year jail sentence on a man who forced his wife to eat the food from the floor and beat her up with a broom.

Manglona said a long period of incarceration is warranted to impress on defendant Tarson Takura Peter to change his ways “before it is too late for the victim.”

“It is very apparent that the defendant has not appreciated his freedom, does not respect the victim, and does not respect the court’s orders,” said the judge in ordering Peter to spend one year each for assault and battery and violating an order for protection.

Manglona gave Peter credit for the time he already served in jail after he was arrested on Feb. 28, 2006.

The defendant was required to pay $200 fine and $25 in court assessment fee.

“The defendant’s conduct in forcing the victim to eat from the floor was so unreasonable, it could only be interpreted to severely subject her to personal humiliation and degradation,” Manglona pointed out.

During a bench trial, Peter was found guilty of assault and battery, violating an order for protection, and disturbing the peace.

The court did not sentence the defendant for disturbing the peace after it found it would violate the double jeopardy clause of the U.S. and CNMI constitutions.

Detective Andrea Ozawa stated in her report that the victim called the Department of Public Safety on Feb. 10 to report the incident.

Ozawa said when police responded the victim was observed limping, and her left knee had bruises, and her right foot was swollen.

Police brought the victim and her five children to a domestic violence center. The victim told police that her husband hit her with a broom. The children told police they saw the beating.

Ozawa said investigation showed that on Feb. 7 at 2pm the victim, Peter and their five children were at her cousin’s house in Chalan Kanoa.

The victim went to the Food Stamp Office, but when he returned, the defendant accused her that she was “looking for guys.”

Peter allegedly put a lot of food on the floor and told her if she does not finish all the food, he was going to beat her up.

The defendant, holding a broom, sat on a chair in front of the wife. The victim started to eat, but could not finish the food because she was not hungry.

Peter asked her if she could finish the food. When she answered “no,” the suspect swung the broom, hitting her left knee with the handle.

Peter then turned the broom upside down and poked it at the victim’s right foot as he was holding the handle with both hands.

That caused injury to the victim’s right foot.

Ozawa said after a few days, the domestic violence shelter manager informed her that the victim was taken to the hospital and it was found out that her right foot was fractured.

The victim said she had obtained a temporary restraining order against Peter, but in October last year, the court’s order allowed them to live together again. (Ferdie Dela Torre)