LIHU‘E — A jury on Friday found Rudy Yasay guilty of harassment and second-degree assault with an included offense of attempted second-degree assault, abuse of a family or household member, and resisting arrest. The jury of five women and seven men
LIHU‘E — A jury on Friday found Rudy Yasay guilty of harassment and second-degree assault with an included offense of attempted second-degree assault, abuse of a family or household member, and resisting arrest.
The jury of five women and seven men read its verdict on the fifth day of a trial of a victim and defendant who presented different versions of two events that occurred the summer of 2010.
Rudy Rudolpho Yasay, 56, of Kaua‘i, was arrested Aug. 21, 2010, and will remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing scheduled May 30.
The maximum possible prison sentence is five-years for second-degree assault, and Yasay has already served approximately one year and seven months.
The guilty verdicts stemmed from an Aug. 18, 2010, incident, at the residence of Yasay and the victim, who were co-habitating in a home owned by the victim’s relatives in exchange for labor and food. Yasay was accused of striking the victim with pruning shears following an argument.
Testimony included Wilcox Memorial Hospital emergency room Dr. Christopher Elliott, who was on duty when the victim came in with a head laceration and a foot injury.
Elliott testified that the victim had a 3.5 centimeter cut on her forehead described as a “deep wound,” and that it required 10 sutures.
The doctor also said there were bruises on her legs and arms.
Yasay testified last Wednesday he was a attempting to leave when the victim grabbed his shirt and the two tussled. He said she fell on some painting scrapers and other materials that caused the injuries.
In the victim’s testimony, she alleged that Yasay struck her with a hedge trimmer.
Kaua‘i police officers testified that Yasay attempted to flee the home when they arrived, and said that he also resisted arrest.
The harassment verdict stemmed from a separate incident that occurred on July 9, 2010. Yasay confirmed in his own testimony that he threw a can of beer at her.
No verdict was reached on the assault and abuse charges stemming from the July incident. The jury found him guilty on the harassment charge.
A sentencing date has not been set.
