Scottville man pleads guilty to third-offense domestic violence.
#MasonCountyCourtNews
By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.
LUDINGTON — A 39-year-old Scottville man faces serving four months up front of a one-year discretionary jail term after pleading guilty Tuesday, Aug. 1, in 51st Circuit Court.
Richard Jay Quijas, of 206 N. Main St., was arrested last June by the Scottville Police Department (SPD) on felony charges of third-offense domestic violence and third-offense habitual offender.
Quijas testified Tuesday that he assaulted a woman he was dating, May 20. “I grabbed her sweatshirt, that’s all that I did,” he told Judge Susan K. Sniegowski.
In addition to his jail sentence, Quijas will be ordered to serve three months on a tether following his release, said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola.
Spaniola said Quijas will also serve a term of probation. He will be ordered to have substance abuse and domestic violence evaluations, and he must follow the recommendations. Work release will be allowed.
His habitual offender status was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
The maximum sentence for third-offense domestic violence is five years in prison.
Quijas has previous domestic violence convictions in March of 2000 in Oceana County; September of 2005 in Mason County; and June of 2011 in Oceana County.
Sentencing is set for Sept. 26 at 2 p.m.
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