WAILUKU - A 34-year-old Haiku man was given credit for more than seven months he spent in jail after being arrested last year for assaulting his girlfriend and the police officer who arrested him.
Edward James Martin also was placed on five years' probation when he was sentenced last week.
He was arrested Nov. 25 after arguing with his girlfriend at their residence and breaking a window, shattering glass on the floor where their 2-year-old daughter was playing, according to court records. When the girlfriend went to pick up the girl, Martin put his hands around her throat, then threw her on the floor and kicked her, according to court records.
Martin also assaulted a neighbor and was pepper sprayed twice by police officers arresting him, said Deputy Prosecutor Lloyd Phelps. He said Martin damaged a police car as he was being transported to the police station.
"It's pretty obvious this was an individual out of control," Phelps said.
Deputy Public Defender Adriel Menor said Martin was going through a "very dark period" after becoming addicted to prescription medication.
"He knows that he can't go back down that path," Menor said.
Martin had pleaded no contest to two counts each of felony abuse by strangulation and first-degree criminal property damage, third-degree assault, first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, fourth-degree criminal property damage and harassment.
Menor said Martin would seek to have his probation transferred to Wisconsin.
Following a plea agreement, 2nd Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza ordered Martin not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs, to complete a domestic violence intervention program and to be evaluated for mental health treatment.
