Judge Sentences Man Who Kicked in Door and Assaulted Family Member – Independent News of the Hi-Line

A man who kicked in a motel door so he could assault a family member received probation Monday in District Court. 

Esequeil P. Velasquez received a suspended sentence of five years with the Department of Corrections for felony aggravated burglary. District Judge Boucher’s sentence was part of a plea deal that dismissed charges of felony partner or family member assault and misdemeanor obstructing an officer or public servant. 

On Aug. 5, 2017, a Budget Inn caller reported to police that someone hit him.  

Esequeil Velasquez, Hill County Detention Center booking photo

In the motel room, officers found Cheerios spilled on the floor, a door chain lock that had been ripped off the door frame, and red spots on the floor that looked like blood. 

The caller told police that Velasquez kicked open the door — which had the security chain in place — and threw him to the floor. One of the victim’s toes was bleeding and he had a scrape and swelling near his right elbow.

Afterward, officers found Velasquez at his residence, where they knocked on the door several times before he opened the door. 

“Upon seeing law enforcement, (Velasquez) shut the door,” according to the court charging document.

One officer went around the back door while the other spoke to a woman, who had come to the front door.

Velasquez closed and locked the back door. The officer forcefully opened the door and followed Velasquez. By this time backup had arrived and Velasquez was brought to the ground.

Velazquez refused to put his hands behind his back. One of the officers used a taser on him. Velasquez cussed and resisted being taken to the patrol vehicle. 

Velasquez has partner or family member assault convictions from 2001 and 2002. 

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