FARGO (trfnews.i234.me) – A woman who pleaded guilty to stomping twice on a man’s head during a brutal downtown Fargo beating was sentenced Monday. Angelica Hernandez, visibly shaken and tearful, apologized for her actions and claimed she had made a mistake.
However, Judge Nicholas Chase called the beating “brutal” and “chilling,” saying that calling it a “mistake” minimized what Hernandez did. The judge noted that a mistake is something like forgetting one’s keys or someone’s birthday, not stomping on an unconscious person’s head.
The victim suffered severe injuries, including a broken nose, orbital bone, and forehead injuries so severe that doctors needed to insert a titanium plate to repair them.
Hernandez’s attorney argued for a suspended sentence, citing her lack of intent to get involved in the brawl. He claimed she was drunk and “blacked out” when she went downtown that night, and was shocked to see what she had done on video.
However, Chase said it was troubling that Hernandez didn’t seem to take ownership of her actions, saying he believed her tears were for herself alone. The judge sentenced Hernandez to 360 days in jail with credit for two days served and all but 30 days suspended for two years.
She will also be on supervised probation for those two years, must undergo an alcohol dependency assessment, pay restitution, and have no contact with the victim. Five others have been charged in connection with the case.