KAILUA-KONA — An Ocean View man has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge after 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 in 3rd Circuit Court to second-degree assault on July 12. 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 has agreed to one year imprisonment.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 11. Nelson remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Nelson’s initial arrest stems from an incident that occurred with his girlfriend in the Hawaiian Ranchos subdivision area on March 9. According to Hawaii Police, the couple had 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 strike him with a fishing pole, according to testimony from Police Detective Brandon Mansur during a preliminary hearing on March 15.
Nelson claimed the victim stopped to go to the bathroom. He later found her passed out, like she had been 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 Maj. Robert Wagner said he didn’t know when the victim had been 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.
