ANTHONY Borja Cepeda, 51, has been arrested for assaulting a couple over a dispute about a “borrowed” marijuana pipe.
Cepeda is charged with assault & battery, assault, and disturbing the peace.
The defendant, who was in the custody of the Department of Corrections, appeared on Friday before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho who imposed a $10,000 cash bail.
Assistant Public Defender Emily Thompson was appointed to represent Cepeda while Assistant Attorney General Carmen Borja appeared for the government.
After the hearing, Cepeda was remanded to the custody of Corrections and was ordered to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. and for an arraignment on Jan. 24 at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, in the early morning of Jan. 4, 2022, police responded to a disturbance in the village of San Antonio.
The victim told police that before the incident, he was inside his apartment when Cepeda, who was intoxicated, walked to the front of his apartment unit and started shouting his name and cussing at him.
The victim told police the problem started when he sent a text message to Cepeda, asking the defendant to return a marijuana pipe Cepeda had borrowed.
The victim said Cepeda threatened to kill him, beat him up, and break his head.
When the victim tried to call 911, he said Cepeda became aggressive and walked toward the victim.
Cepeda started pushing the victim and grabbing him by the shirt using his left hand while using his right hand to strangle the victim’s neck, the victim told police.
When the victim managed to get away, Cepeda followed him inside the house and punched him several times.
The victim’s girlfriend attempted to stop Cepeda, but the defendant slapped her with his right hand hitting her on the right cheek, the victim told police.
It was only when Cepeda’s brother entered the apartment and pulled Cepeda out of the unit that the commotion stopped. The two then rode away in a sedan and left the area.
