Vincent Daniel Q. Terlaje, a.k.a., Ben, 30, appeared during a Gerstein hearing before Superior Court Associate Judge Perry Inos yesterday afternoon.
During a Gerstein hearing, the court determines if there is probable cause for a defendant’s continued detention.
Assistant Attorney General George Hasselback said the bail should be set at $10,000, which Inos granted.
Terlaje, who was represented by Assistant Public Defender Richard Miller, did not post bail and was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections.
Hasselback told the court that Terlaje was released to a third-party custodian in connection with a pending theft and burglary case.
Hasselback also informed the court that Terlaje choked the same assault victim in Feb. 2009.
In a statement, Department of Public Safety acting spokesman PO2 Jason Tarkong said police were dispatched to a reported domestic incident located behind Joeten Dandan.
Police said the 28-year-old victim suffered minor bite marks to her hand and bruising to her face. She refused medical treatment.
A caller led the police to Terlaje and the victim, both of whom were in the defendant’s car, police said.
As Sgt. Paul Ogumoro together with Police Officers Jesse Seman and Carl Tudela instructed Terlaje to open the car’s door, they heard the victim crying hysterically as she came out of the car’s passenger side.
Police described the victim as having a bruise under her left eye and her hair was in disarray.
The victim told police that Terlaje beat her up and threatened to kill her.
Prior to the incident, Terlaje hitched a ride with a friend and were driving by Joeten Dandan when he noticed his girlfriend outside a poker establishment in the area, police said.
Terlaje grabbed the victim by the hair from the parking lot, police added.
The victim, while screaming and resisting, was forced to enter the car with Terlaje and his driver-friend, police said.
Terlaje told his driver-friend to drive away while Terlaje assaulted the victim inside the car and threatened to kill her, police added.
Terlaje instructed the driver to stop at a residence in As Terlaje where he continued to assault the victim by slapping her on the face and biting her on her hand, police said.
Terlaje also held on to a machete and threatened to cut the victim on her neck, police added.
In July 2009, Terlaje was arrested together with a Department of Public Safety Crime Scene Investigation Unit officer for burglarizing a school in Tanapag and a residence on Capital Hill using a police vehicle.
