Michael A, Torres
Leonardtown, MD — An Abell man has been sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to one count of second=degree assault. St. Mary’s County Circuit Court Judge Karen Abrams sentenced Michael Torres, 39, during a Nov. 23 hearing.
According to the original report earlier this year from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, “On May 29 Deputy Steinbach responded to a residence on Gerard’s Cove Road in Abell, for a domestic assault in progress with a knife. On arrival, suspect Michael Aquedo Torres, age 39, of Abell, was being restrained by a male victim inside the home. Torres was taken into custody after a brief struggle with deputies.
“The investigation revealed Torres pushed the first male victim during an argument over Torres’ alleged drug abuse. A short time later, a female victim confronted Torres at which time he pushed her to the floor damaging the victim’s personal property of the in the process. After learning about the two victims being assaulted by Torres, a third male victim confronted Torres. Torres pulled out a knife and threatened the third victim. The third victim was able to disarm Torres and restrain him until deputies arrived.”
At the sentencing hearing, Torres’ attorney Shane Mattingly said his client had “issues on and off with prescription drugs.” For a variety of stated reasons Torres apparently had not yet concluded drug treatment or counseling.
Torres’ father told Judge Abrams about his son, “He is not a violent person. He is not a threat to this county and the community.”
Sentencing guidelines for the offense were probation to 18 months and Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel White supported sentencing within those guidelines. The judge sentenced Torres to five years in jail but suspended all but the one year, which will be spent at the St. Mary’s County Detention Center.
In accepting the plea the state dropped the remaining charges in the six-count indictment.
Judge Abrams did authorize drug treatment for Torres if he is able to get into a program. She said, “You have a lot of work to do on the substance abuse problem.”
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com