Thread: Newton fight ends in deporting

http://www.njherald.com/286998501067542.php

Newton fight ends in deporting
Sunday, September 10, 2006 Mail to a friend Printer Friendly Version

By TOM HOWELL JR.

Herald Staff Writer

NEWTON— An illegal immigrant involved in a knife fight over a prostitute in Newton will be deported, an assistant prosecutor said.

Raymundo Reyes Mendoza, 32, of 191 Spring St., was sentenced Friday to time served, or 110 days, for a May assault with a broken-beer bottle. He was assisted by an interpreter in court.

Assistant Prosecutor Rachelle Jones said immigration officials put a retainer on Mendoza, meaning he may be deported within 48 hours once he is released from the Sussex County jail.

Although his actions were on the low end of the crime scale, a disorderly persons offense and simple assault, Mendoza had been deported in May 2005 and re-entered the country illegally, she said.

Defense Attorney Thomas Militano said he thinks his client is from Juarez, but the lawyer's documents listed only "Mexico."

On May 21, Mendoza, Justino Calderon Fernandez, 55, Javier Calderon Rodriguez, 23, and another roommate each contributed $30 for a prostitute, who apparently engaged in sexual acts with three of the men, authorities said. Mendoza wanted his money back, and a fight broke out.

When police arrived at the apartment, "four Spanish males (were) standing in the apartment covered in blood," Patrolman Shawn Burke wrote in an affidavit. "All four were apparently intoxicated, and there were numerous six-packs of empty bottles of Corona beer in the apartment."

The three defendants were arrested on weapons and assault charges.

In his guilty plea, Mendoza said he caused Fernandez to fall on a piece of broken glass during the fight. The affidavit, however, said Mendoza cut Fernandez as retaliation for smashing a beer bottle over his head. Fernandez and Rodriguez both pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault.

Prosecutors believed the men were working as day laborers in the area. They said in May that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be contacted about the crimes.

"Mendoza cut Fernandez as retaliation for smashing a beer bottle over his head."
I hope it was a Miller beer bottle