Steven Mendiola, a former employee of Rota Department of Public Safety, appeared for a change of plea hearing on May 30 in Superior Court on Rota and was represented by attorney Perry Inos.
Assistant Attorney General Joseph Taijeron, the prosecutor, agreed to dismiss the assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery charges.
Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja accepted the defendant’s plea and sentenced him to 12 months of imprisonment, all suspended except for the first three days with credit of 44 hours for time served.
The remaining 28 hours will be served at the Department of Corrections facility on Rota, on June 6 at 6 p.m.
The defendant will be released from jail on June 7 at 10 p.m.
Mendiola was placed on supervised probation for one year and was ordered to pay an assessment fee of $25 and a fine of $500.
He was ordered to submit an apology letter to his common-law wife and to stay away 250 feet away from her during the probationary period.
Mendiola will perform 500 hours of community work service and was ordered to seek permanent employment.
His review hearing was set for Nov. 14 at 10:30 am.
The plea agreement stated that Mendiola initiate an altercation with his common-law wife on Nov. 21, 2007 while under the influence of alcohol.
The plea agreement stated that at the time of the incident, the defendant was an off-duty sergeant of DPs, and that during the altercation, he shoved the victim in a rude, angry and threatening manner.
