LIHUE —An Anahola man whose defense attorneys described as “immature” and “stupid” after he attacked the mother of his children on multiple occasions was sentenced Thursday. Preston Reyes is accused of having punched the mother of his children repeatedly through
LIHUE —An Anahola man whose defense attorneys described as “immature” and “stupid” after he attacked the mother of his children on multiple occasions was sentenced Thursday.
Preston Reyes is accused of having punched the mother of his children repeatedly through a window of her home after he confronted her in July 2015, according to court documents.
His defense attorneys called Reyes’ actions in the relationship with his children’s mother “impulsive,” “stupid,” “toxic” and “immature.”
Defense attorney Melinda Mendes said Reyes had just found out his friend was sleeping with his girlfriend behind his back and he wanted to confront him.
When he arrived, instead of the Reyes’ friend coming forward, the victim said she “rushed towards the window and ending up hitting him.”
“He hit back and he shouldn’t have done it,” Mendes said. “He’s the one who put himself in that position, so he’s taking responsibility for that.”
In September, Reyes went to her home in the middle of the night and stole her boyfriend’s moped and drove off. He then told her boyfriend that if he wanted it back, the boyfriend would have to fight Reyes, court records showed.
Mendes said Reyes stole the moped in an effort to get his friend to talk to him, so they could “fight man to man.”
“When (his friend) shows up to fight man to man, Preston ends up crying saying brah, why did you do this to me?” Mendes said.
“In the relationship, it seemed like there was a lot of that confusion,” said defense attorney Caren Dennemeyer.
Fifth Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano said the confusion came because “Mr. Reyes allowed himself to be played.”
Both attorneys asked the court that he be sentenced to time served, which amounted to just a little more than three months.
Prior to the sentencing, deputy prosecuting George White orally asked the court to continue the sentencing to allow for the complaining witness to be present. His motion was denied.
The victim wrote an impact statement to the court but did not appear Thursday.
“Having Preston come to my house at 2 a.m. to break my windshield made me paranoid,” she wrote in the letter. “I was scared he was going to come back and possibly steal one of our kids.”
The court said it would sentence Reyes to time served. He also requested that Reyes pay $440 in restitution to the complaining witness for an occasion where he punched in her car windows while the children were inside.
Reyes is charged with multiple offenses, including three felonies, across six cases.
Two counts of criminal property damage in the third degree, terroristic threatening in the second degree, and theft in the second degree are among some of the charges Reyes pleaded to in March.
A global plea with the state encompassed all cases and dropped two of three felonies down to misdemeanors.
Because Reyes had already served more than the agreed upon time – 60 days – he was released from jail. Reyes is still serving probation and must complete a mandatory anger management program.
