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Ex-PSS staff accused of beating wife pleads guilty
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Posted on Jun 18 2008
A former Public School System employee accused of seriouslyinjuring his wife during a beating pleaded guilty to the charges yesterday.
Vicente Limes Laniyo, 41, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and battery.
Superior Court Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona accepted Laniyo’s plea and set the sentencing for Oct. 1, 2008 at 9am. Manglona directed the Adult Probation Office to file a pre-sentence investigation report on or before Sept. 5, 2008.
Laniyo was last assigned at the PSS food and nutrition service program.
In September 2007, the Attorney General’s Office charged the defendant with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of aggravated assault and battery, and one count of kidnapping.
Laniyo and his lawyer, assistant public defender Richard Miller, entered a plea agreement with the government, represented by assistant attorney general Mellisa Simms.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Laniyo pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and battery, and the government agreed to dismiss the remaining charges.
The parties agreed that the sentence will be 10 years, all suspended except for an amount of time to be determined by the court.
The court will also get the input from the victim through testimony or a written victim impact statement.
Under the agreement, Laniyo will be serving a minimum of 40 months in prison.
The factual basis of the agreement stated that on Aug. 26, 2007, Laniyo caused serious bodily harm on his wife, including severe lacerations on her back, head, hand, and thighs, while in possession of an air rifle.
According to the victim’s statement to police, she and Laniyo were talking shortly before midnight in their house in Garapan when he accused her of fooling around. Laniyo then allegedly started hitting her with weapons such as a machete, knife, and a pocket knife.
The victim said that after a few hours, she managed to get out of the house and seek help from a neighbor.
