Ex-convict gets 6 years in prison for stabbing neighbor

An ex-convict who stabbed a neighbor in the back for trying to intervene in a domestic dispute in San Jose has been slapped with a six-year prison term.

At a sentencing hearing last week, Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo sentenced Kfis Kris Pino to 10 years imprisonment, all suspended except for six years, for assault with a dangerous weapon.

Pino, 40, a Chuukese, was given credit for one year and seven days of time served.

After serving his sentence, Pino will be placed on supervised probation for five years. He was ordered to pay $3,359.07 in restitution to the victim, Antonio I. Kapileo, plus $500 in probation fee, $200 fine, and $100 in court costs.

Pino was prohibited from having any contact with Kapileo and his immediate family during his probation.

Within six months from being released from prison, Pino shall report to the Community Guidance Center for anger management counseling. He is also prohibited from possessing and consuming any alcoholic beverages or controlled substances during his probation.

The Office of the Attorney General charged Pino with assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault and battery, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.

Pino pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon as part of a plea deal. The remaining charges were dropped.

Assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas, who appeared for the government at the sentencing hearing, recommended a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, to be served without the possibility of parole.

In the government’s sentencing memorandum, citing Pino’s past criminal conviction, assistant attorney general Chester Hinds said Pino has been given chances at probation and anger management counseling, but it did not work.

“The defendant’s actions show that he is getting more violent, not less,” Hinds said.

Pino was convicted in 2006 for criminal mischief and was sentenced to probation and anger management counseling. In 2008, he was charged with assault and battery for slapping and punching his girlfriend.

Hinds said that Pino’s criminal actions shows he poses a threat to the community. He said the victim, who was unarmed and had his back turned to Pino, sustained injuries that required 15 stitches.

Attorney Joe Hill served as counsel for Pino.

In his declaration in support of his presentence memorandum, Pino said he regrets and is remorseful for his actions and the injury that he inflicted on Kapileo. He said there has been a past stress in the relationship of his family and Kapileo.

According to Kapileo’s narration of events, he was fishing at the beach side near Oleai Beach Bar on Nov. 10, 2014, at 1:30am when he heard noises from across the road. Kapileo looked at the road leading to San Jose Church and saw Pino running across the road.

Kapileo saw a female teenager standing on the road leading to the church. He drove to the parking lot of the nearby Downtown Market, got down and approached the teenager whom he identified as his neighbor.

As Kapileo was walking toward the teenager, he felt pain in his back and realized that he had been stabbed. When he looked back, he saw Pino holding a knife.

Kapileo fell to the ground, but managed to run toward his house. He then walked to the house of his boss and asked the latter to call an ambulance.