ST. CLOUD -- A Waite Park man has pleaded guilty to attacking his girlfriend which left her with a swollen and bruised face and two missing teeth.

Forty-seven-year-old Hakeem Rochao avoided a jury trial when he pleaded guilty to one count of felony first degree assault last week.

Court records show Rochao was in an argument with his girlfriend in the early morning hours of March 28th when the assault happened. Officers were called to the scene just after 3:00 a.m. by a neighbor who said a woman had been assaulted.

The victim told responding officers the argument started in their basement and then continued outside. The woman said he knocked her to the ground and kicked her several times before climbing on top of her and began punching her. Records show Rochao punched the woman in the head and face 10-15 times, knocking out two teeth. He is also accused of pulling out large clumps of her hair and causing bruising and swelling around her eyes.

The woman escaped and ran screaming to a neighbor’s house to call police.  Rochao left the scene and was later found in Sauk Rapids and arrested.

The Stearns County Attorney's Office indicates they will be asking for more than eight years in prison and Rochao will be asking for less prison time or probation.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 27th.

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