LIHU‘E — An ‘Ele‘ele man was sentenced to 90 days jail and probation for family abuse Wednesday in 5th Circuit Court. Ki Anthony Banquel, 30, pleaded no contest to abuse of family or household member and to multiple counts of
LIHU‘E — An ‘Ele‘ele man was sentenced to 90 days jail and probation for family abuse Wednesday in 5th Circuit Court.
Ki Anthony Banquel, 30, pleaded no contest to abuse of family or household member and to multiple counts of violating a protective order on April 18. The sentence included concurrent 90 day jail terms with a two-year probation.
Banquel struck and strangled his now-ex-wife until their 6-year-old son intervened, said County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Arin. The state recommended jail because Arin said the defendant continues to blame the victim.
Banquel’s 19 counts of violating a protective order were reportedly calls and text messages in an effort to restore the relationship shortly after the order was granted, according to Arin.
The state recommended jail time because the defendant continues to blame the victim.
Arin said that when police responded to the call, they found the woman with bruises and a cut on her chin.
Given the circumstances of the crime and because of past convictions involving violent behavior, Judge Kathleen Watanabe said the defendant should appreciate a very generous plea deal. She cautioned Banquel that should he fail in probation, the court would not hesitate to impose a maximum sentence on each charge.
“The court is appalled,” Watanabe said of the report on the incident.
Watanabe said a child should not be exposed to such violence, much less be compelled to participate in order to save his own mother. She also ordered Banquel to undergo alternatives to violence classes.
State Deputy Public Defender John Calma said that Banquel has accepted responsibility for his actions, and asked the court to consider the overall circumstances of the incident. The couple are independent business owners and the incident escalated after Banquel complained about an employee of his wife, said Calma.
The relationship has ended and Banquel has demonstrated that he has no intention of contacting her again, Calma said.
∫ Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by emailing tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
