Man found guilty of grievous bodily harm after attacking teenagers in park | News

A man accused of attacking a group of teenagers in a Dededo park earlier this year has been convicted of aggravated assault in a jury trial, according to a news release from Attorney General Douglas Moylan.

Joseph Lee Pugh Jr., 43, was found guilty of aggravated assault as a second-degree felony and five counts of aggravated assault as a third-degree felony, with a special charge of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

Moylan said prosecutors will ask Judge Vernon P. Perez to sentence Pugh to a maximum sentence of 64 years in prison.

A judge’s complaint filed May 2 in Superior Court described the confrontation between Pugh and the group of teenagers.

On April 28, a Sunday evening, around 7 p.m., Pugh approached the group at a basketball court across from Liguan Elementary School. He asked why the park was dark, and a 17-year-old told him that the lights weren’t working.

An hour later, Pugh returned and appeared to be holding rebar in his left hand and possibly a knife or broken glass bottle in his right hand, according to the complaint.

“The park is closed and you have to leave now,” Pugh reportedly shouted.

The 17-year-old said to Pugh, “You’re not my father,” and Pugh jumped forward and made a cutting motion.

A struggle ensued during which the teenager was hit by an object behind his neck.

Pugh also reportedly lunged at a 15-year-old with a “sharp and shiny object,” the complaint states.

The boy was injured and taken to Guam Memorial Hospital with a chest wound.