LIHU‘E — A Kapa‘a man was sentenced to 10 years in jail Thursday for climbing into a tourist couple’s tent and hitting one of them in the head with a hammer. While Antonio Manzano Jr., 34, expressed remorse in court,
LIHU‘E — A Kapa‘a man was sentenced to 10 years in jail Thursday for climbing into a tourist couple’s tent and hitting one of them in the head with a hammer.
While Antonio Manzano Jr., 34, expressed remorse in court, his lawyer said he was so drunk he didn’t even remember committing the crime.
“Mr. Manzano didn’t remember what happened. (He) apparently hooked up with some friends, drank too much,” and his medication and the booze made a bad combination, Deputy Public Defender James Itamura said. “The incident was out of character for Mr. Manzano. That individual that committed these offenses is” long gone.
“I’m deeply sorry,” said Manzano. “I apologize, and I know that no one was pressuring me to drink hard alcohol.”
While Itamura asked for five years probation, Prosecuting Attorney Michael Soong said that the severity of the crime deserved severe punishment.
“Anyone who can take a hammer and strike a person in the head, there’s something wrong with that person’s value system and the way they value human life,” said Soong. “It was a very serious attack. Fortunately, it was not as serious as it could be.”
After a lengthy discussion between the two lawyers and Circuit Court Judge Clifford L. Nakea, Nakea decided to take the prosecutor‘s recommendation.
“There are apparently many circumstances in your personal life,” including the break-up of his marriage, that could have caused Manzano to drink, said Nakea. “You are entitled to some understanding. However, your conduct is most serious. Taking a hammer to the head of an individual gives rise to the possibility of death.”
“For that, I have to make the difficult decision,” Nakea continued.
“I hope your stay in the correctional facility allow you to address your issues.”
The judge also added that three prior convictions, for property damage and terroristic threatening, while all arising out of a “domestic situation,” cause concern about violent tendencies.
Manzano was facing sentences for attempted first-degree assault and first-degree burglary, each B felonies with a maximum of 10 years in jail, and first-degree terroristic threatening, a C felony with a maximum five years in jail.
He was originally charged with second-degree assault, first-degree attempted assault, two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, first-degree terroristic threatening, and two counts of harassment, stemming from the April 5 incident.
According to police, Manzano accosted an Alaska couple who were sleeping in their tent at ‘Anini Beach Park.
KPD detectives said that the 21-year-old male visitor and his companion, an 18-year-old woman, were sleeping in their tent at the county beach park when Manzano entered their tent.
After being told to leave, the intruder left, but returned 45 minutes to an hour later, about 2:15 a.m., and reportedly struck the man twice on the head with a hammer, said Cyndi Mei Ozaki, county public information officer.
The victim was able to get the hammer away from the suspect, and the victim was then taken by the female to Wilcox Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released.
According to the indictment, the woman was touched on her behind twice, and the couple was threatened and harassed during the assault.
The burglary charges stem from the entering of the tent.
Manzano pleaded guilty to the charges June 28, said Craig De Costa, first deputy prosecuting attorney.
Tom Finnegan, staff writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
