A MAN convicted of beating up a person at a wedding party in Susupe two years ago will spend seven months in jail.
Associate Judge David Wiseman sentenced Joey Blas Camacho to one-year imprisonment—all suspended except for six months—for assault and battery.
For disturbing the peace, Wiseman sentenced Camacho to six months imprisonment, all suspended except one month.
Wiseman said the sentence will run consecutively, which means that the defendant will serve a total of seven months in jail.
The judge required the defendant to pay a $200 fine, perform 80 hours of community work service, and jointly pay with co-defendant Raymond B. Camacho $1,279 in restitution to the victim.
Wiseman ordered the defendant to start serving his jail term today at 8 a.m.
Wiseman said Camacho poses danger to the community.
During the Royal Taga Beach Club incident, the judge said Camacho was an aggressor and caused substantial injuries to the victim, Espiridion Dela Cruz Pajarito Jr., who lost several of his teeth and broke his nose.
Wiseman said Camacho was previously convicted of theft and sentenced to one year in jail, all suspended.
Subsequently, the judge said, the defendant was charged with serious traffic offenses including leaving the scene of an accident.
In that traffic case, Wiseman said, Camacho was not given jail term and was placed only on probation.
But the defendant failed all the conditions that he had to comply with, the judge said.
Camacho was charged with aggravated assault and battery, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.
Camacho and his attorney, John D. Osborn, signed a plea agreement with the CNMI government. The defendant pleaded guilty last March 21 to assault and battery and disturbing the peace.
As agreed by the parties, the government recommended the dismissal of the aggravated assault and battery, which the court granted.
According to the government, on Dec. 16, 2000, the defendant along with several other persons kicked and punched Pajarito.
Police and court records showed that Pajarito suffered a broken nose, swollen left eye, and bruises on different parts of the body. His front bottom teeth were knocked loose.
Investigation showed that prior to the riot, Pajarito was assisting the band members and owner Larry Sebaklim in setting up the musical equipment on the stage at Royal Taga Beach Club for a wedding party.
Pajarito and Sebaklim were also drinking in front of the stage. Sebaklim later introduced Pajarito to Raymond B. Camacho, who was among the customers or guests at the club.
Raymond B. Camacho was observed to be joking with the victim which later resulted in a fight.
When the fight was stopped, Sebaklim escorted Pajarito to a car. When Pajarito stepped outside the car, Joey B. Camacho allegedly came from behind and grabbed the victim on the neck.
Joey B. Camacho then slammed the victim on the ground. Joey and Raymond Camacho and three other men punched and kicked the victim on the head and body several times.
One person tried to stop the five suspects, but Joey Camacho continued punching the victim on the face and head.
