MICHAEL Satorre Garcia told a responding police officer, “I slapped my wife, but only one time.”
On Monday morning, Garcia appeared before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho who imposed a $1,000 cash bail on the defendant.
The victim, Garcia’s wife, was present at the hearing and was given an opportunity to address the court.
She told the judge that she wants the charges of disturbing the peace and assault and battery (domestic violence) against her husband to be dropped because she needs him to support their two small children.
Garcia’s lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Karie Comstock, asked the court to release her client on his personal recognizance.
For his part, Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds said the victim should talk to a victim’s advocate before the court makes a decision on releasing the defendant to his wife.
Judge Camacho told the parties that he would make a decision after the victim had talked to a victim’s advocate.
Garcia was ordered to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 21 at 2:30 p.m., and for an arraignment on Oct. 31 at 9 a.m.
According to the complaint against Garcia, when his wife came back home after dropping their daughter and a niece, he was mad at her.
She said she followed Garcia into the bedroom and asked her what the problem was.
Garcia then called her stupid and slapped her, she added.
She said she felt dizzy: her face was red and she was in pain.
She sent a message to her brothers and told them to call the police. She said she was scared of Garcia.
Garcia told police that he and his wife were just arguing like how husbands and wives argue.
