Man gets 44-day prison term for beating wife in front of daughter

A man accused of repeatedly hitting his common-law wife with a broomstick in front of their daughter pleaded guilty yesterday and was slapped with a 44-day prison term.

Theofilus O. Minor, 45, pleaded guilty to assault and battery.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho sentenced Minor to the maximum of one-year imprisonment, all suspended except for 44 days, with credit for 44 days of time served. That means he will no longer serve further jail time.

Minor was placed on probation for one year and ordered to pay a $200 fine, $25 court costs, and $100 probation fee. He was required to report to Community Guidance Center for anger management counseling and to complete any recommended treatment.

The defendant was also ordered to submit an evaluation by the Community Guidance Center on alcohol and drug assessment and treatment.

He is prohibited from consuming any alcoholic beverages during his probation.

According to the factual basis of the plea deal, Minor hit his common-law wife in front of their 6-year-old daughter on Sept. 11, 2015, on Saipan.

The victim refused medical treatment. She supported the terms of the plea agreement.

At yesterday’s hearing, the victim told the court that she wants Minor to come home and work on their relationship.

Assistant attorney general Barbara Cepeda represented the government. Assistant public defender Tillman Clark served as counsel for Minor.

Police detective Dee Liza S. Udui stated in her report that two police officers responded on Sept. 11 at 2:48pm to a reported domestic violence in Kagman.

When the officers met the victim, she was crying, her face was red and she complained that her head was hurting.

The alleged victim told police that prior to the beating, Minor asked her for $10 to buy drugs at a poker arcade, but she refused because she had only $50 at that time and she needed the money for laundry.

During their argument, Minor went back into the bedroom and punched and slapped the victim in the face several times, police said. He allegedly pulled her hair, then dragged and kicked her. He also grabbed a broomstick and hit her with it repeatedly in the head.

When Minor walked to the kitchen, she pulled her daughter with her and they both ran to their neighbor’s house, where she called the police.