He appeared before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho on Wednesday for a change of plea hearing.
Rasiang was arrested in August for unlawfully striking, beating, wounding, and causing bodily harm to a household member — specifically striking, grabbing, and pushing her to the ground.
Upon release from the Department of Corrections, Rasiang will begin 24 months of probation, and must not have any harmful or threatening contact with the victim.
He is required to pay $25 in court costs, as well as $120 a year for probation at least two months before the end of his probationary period.
Moreover, he is to render 50 community service hours to be completed 30 days before the expiration of his probation. The hours may be converted to fines.
He is not allowed to consume any illegal controlled substances, and must obey all CNMI and federal laws or risk having his probation revoked and face contempt of court charges.
In addition, Rasiang is required to submit to an alcohol evaluation by the Office of Adult Probation and abide by and complete any treatment recommended by the office.
He is required to continue counseling, complete parenting classes, and obey all rules of the Office of Adult Probation.
Rasiang was represented by Assistant Public Defender Emily Thomson, while Assistant Attorney General Steven C. Kessell appeared for the CNMI government.
‘Blacked out’
Rasiang told authorities that he had no recollection of what had happened and that he had blacked out.
He and his family had gone out to a farm in early August where they ate, drank beer and played cards.
He said that he had drunk about a dozen cans of beer, and the last thing he recalled was preparing to leave the farm.
He later woke up at Coral Ocean Point beach in his vehicle, then drove to a store where he was picked up by authorities for child abuse or neglect, strangulation, and disturbing the peace.
The victim said she had suggested that she and Rasiang spend the night at the farm because they were intoxicated, but they later decided to go home instead.
She drove with Rasiang, their one-year-old child and two older children as passengers.
Rasiang then asked her repeatedly and aggressively if she wanted to sleep over at the farm, raising his voice.
She attempted to drive them back to the farm, but Rasiang asked her why they were heading back to the farm.
Afraid of retaliation, she told Rasiang that she had forgotten their son’s bottle.
Rasiang later opened the front passenger door and exited, holding their one-year-old son who was crying after hitting his head on the car.
The victim attempted to take their son from Rasiang, but he grabbed her by her neck and forced her to the ground while holding their son with his other hand.
The victim said she found it hard to breathe and felt like she was going to die.
Rasiang left when the victim’s father arrived and called the police.
Responding police officers said the victim had notable red markings on her neck, and her son was admitted to the hospital for hematoma and further observation.
