Lucky Michael Chipuelong is escorted by a Corrections officer at the courthouse for a bail hearing on April 8, 2024.
LUCKY Michael Chipuelong, 37, has admitted that he struck another man’s head and body multiple times with a crowbar.
Chipuelong, through Assistant Public Defender Karie Comstock, pled guilty to the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.
Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds appeared for the government.
Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho accepted Chipuelong’s guilty plea after determining that the defendant’s decision was made freely, voluntarily and intelligently, and that he had the advice of competent counsel with whom he said he was satisfied.
The judge on Wednesday sentenced Chipuelong to eight years in prison, the first three years and four months to be served day by day without the possibility of parole, work release, weekend release or other form of early release.
The defendant was given credit for 191 days previously served in jail, and his remaining sentence was suspended, but it may be imposed in whole or in part for violation of law or Office of the Adult Probation rules.
Chipuelong was also ordered to pay a $175 fine and court costs.
He will be placed on five years of supervised probation, beginning immediately upon release from incarceration. In addition, he was ordered to stay away from the victim.
After the hearing, Chipuelong was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections to start serving his sentence.
According to the information against Chipuelong, “On or about April 6, 2024 …, the Defendant … unlawfully threatened to cause, attempted to cause, or purposely caused bodily injury to another with a dangerous weapon, to wit: Defendant struck [victim’s] head and chest with a crowbar, in violation of 6 CMC § 1204(a). Victim required medical treatment.”
The victim, who sustained a three-inch laceration on the head, told police that he was drinking with another person at an apartment in San Antonio when Chipuelong approached him with a crowbar and began hitting him on his head and body.
According to the victim, he and Chipuelong had known each other for more than 10 years, and he was surprised by the attack.
Chipuelong, for his part, told investigators that he was angry at his friend for using money to buy beer for the victim “instead of buying food for his kids.”
He said he wanted to teach the two men a lesson, so he took out his anger on the victim.
