Published: November 17, 2009 12:37 am

Man admits wielding chain saw at police
Will serve up to 6 months in jail, then most likely deported


By Julie Manganis



DANVERS — A man who held off an entire shift of Danvers police officers with a running chain saw after trying to saw his way into his wife's home will serve no more than six months in jail, a Salem District Court judge decided yesterday.

Angel Castaneda, 35, had offered to plead guilty just days after the Oct. 11 incident on Putnam Lane but changed his mind when Judge Richard Mori said he'd impose at least two years in jail.

Yesterday, however, Judge Robert Cornetta saw the case a bit differently, offering a six-month jail term followed by probation — though it's likely that Castaneda will be deported to El Salvador immediately after he's released.

While prosecutors objected, asking for the maximum, 21/2 years in jail, to be served in full, they had no legal ability to stop the plea under state law.

"This defendant was given ample opportunity to end this event," prosecutor Michelle DeCourcey said. "He went after uniformed, armed police officers with a chain saw."

DeCourcey also pointed out that Castaneda had used "numerous" aliases. Those aliases include Enrique Colon, the name under which he held a job and a driver's license.

It took every available officer on duty that morning, one armed with a shotgun and the others drawing their service revolvers, to persuade Castaneda to drop the running chain saw, DeCourcey pointed out.

Police were called to the home on Putnam Lane that morning by Castaneda's mother-in-law, who said she had been getting threatening calls all morning from Castaneda.

Castaneda had returned home earlier in the morning after being out all night, which led to an argument with his wife. While she was at the police station getting a restraining order, the phone continued to ring at her home, her mother answering the calls.

As Patrolman Dana "Mike" Hagan was taking the report, the phone rang again. Hagan told Castaneda his wife was getting a restraining order.

Moments later, a truck pulled up in the driveway. Hagan went out to investigate and was confronted by Castaneda, wielding a chain saw, which he was trying to start. He ignored repeated orders to drop the saw.

As the officer called for backup and retreated to his cruiser, Castaneda got the saw started.

As Hagan waited for backup, Castaneda turned the saw on the home, sawing a patio umbrella in half and then trying to saw his way through a window and then a door.

Castaneda's lawyer, Gail Nastasia, told Cornetta that her client doesn't remember any of that, however.

After four years of sobriety, she said, Castaneda had "relapsed" into substance abuse following the death of his father.

Castaneda offered what is known as an "Alford" guilty plea, in which he concedes that prosecutors have enough evidence for a judge or jury to find him guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property, though he cannot recall the incident.

Cornetta imposed a 21/2-year jail term but ordered all but six months suspended, along with three years of probation. But the judge ordered the prosecutor to notify immigration officials when Castaneda is released — which could come in as little as two months.


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