HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A man with a history of being physically abusive is behind bars after he allegedly became violent toward a woman known to him on Friday.
The complaint filed against Joshua Duenas Bautista detailed at least four incidents where officers with the Guam Police Department were called to respond to disturbances involving Bautista and the woman.
The most recent incident occurred Friday morning, according to police who arrived at the woman’s parents’ home in Dededo.
“Upon their arrival, the victim was crying and yelling for the defendant to leave. The victim indicated that the defendant had agreed to be a better person, so they were trying to work things out. Accordingly, the defendant picked her up from work on Nov. 9, 2023. From there, they went to the defendant’s house. When the victim was not tending to the defendant’s toothache, he became angry, began hitting down items outside the house, flipped a table, followed the victim into the house, and attempted to hit her with a closed fist, but the defendant’s father stopped him,” the complaint said.
Bautista then allegedly choked the woman before striking her in the stomach roughly three times and slapping her face. The victim told police that the punches to her stomach caused her to vomit.
The following morning, as the woman was getting ready for work, Bautista allegedly became angry over having to watch their children.
“The victim stated that she subsequently got their children into their car, so she could take them and the defendant to her parents’ house. As the victim was driving, the defendant constantly hit her side and stomach. The victim eventually stopped the car and ordered the defendant out, but he hit her again, took away the car keys, and climbed on top of her to take control of the car,” the complaint said.
The woman tried to flee the car but Bautista reportedly “pulled her back inside.”
When they arrived at the woman’s parents’ home, the woman tried to run from Bautista, according to the complaint.
“The victim ran toward the back of the house, where the defendant caught up to her, again grabbed her by the throat, slapped her face approximately three times, and punched her in the stomach. The victim managed to run to the bathroom and lock herself inside until the police arrived. According to her, she coughed up blood while waiting for the police,” the complaint said.
The woman told officers that Bautista had promised to be a “better person,” but said it was “all lies.”
The complaint noted that before the November incident, police had responded to similar complaints involving the defendant in July and August.
In July, a protective order was issued barring Bautista from threatening, abusing, harassing or disturbing the peace and well-being of the defendant.
Bautista was also prohibited from contacting the victim.
The August and November incidents were violations of that order.
On Saturday, Bautista was subsequently charged with advanced stalking, multiple counts of family violence and violation of a court order.
He was detained on $5,000 cash bail, with a preliminary hearing set for Nov. 21.
The Guam Police Department Dededo Precinct is seen Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in Dededo.
