KAILUA-KONA — An Ocean View man pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in connection with a March domestic attack involving his girlfriend in Ka‘u.
Originally charged with first-degree assault and abuse of family, Vencent Nelson, 40, pleaded guilty July 12 to second-degree assault. With the plea agreement, the Hawaii County prosecutor’s office dismissed the abuse of family charge.
The prosecution is asking for five years incarceration. However, the defendant agreed to one year imprisonment.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 11. Nelson remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Nelson’s initial arrest stemmed from an incident that occurred with his girlfriend March 9 in the Hawaiian Ranchos subdivision area. According to the Hawaii Police Department, the couple walked down to Pohue Bay and stayed overnight. During the night, Nelson had an argument and altercation with the victim.
The next day, as they walked back up the road, Nelson told police his girlfriend continued to throw rocks at him, and at one point struck him with a fishing pole, according to testimony from Detective Brandon Mansur during a preliminary hearing March 15.
Nelson claimed the victim stopped to go to the bathroom. He later found her passed out, like she was sleeping, Mansur stated during the March hearing.
The Alaska woman was taken to Kona Community Hospital in critical condition and later transported to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu. Police said she suffered traumatic injuries to her head and bruising and redness about her body.
On Wednesday, Hawaii Police Department Maj. Robert Wagner said he didn’t know when the victim was discharged from the hospital. However, authorities contacted her in May where she was living in Alaska with her parents.
“It appears she sustained serious injuries that she still has to deal with,” Wagner said.
Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.