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Machete-wielding man sentenced to prison

HILO >> A Puna man who assaulted a woman and threw a machete at a police officer has been sentenced to five years in prison.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports 59-year-old Joseph Feliciano pleaded guilty Friday in a plea deal to felony assault, terrorist threatening and attempted felony assault on a law enforcement officer.

According to prosecutors, Feliciano struck a woman on Dec. 18, 2013, and knocked out two of her teeth.

At his home a day later, officers tried to arrest him and he wielded two machetes.

Deputy Public Defender Michael Ebesugawa says Feliciano was struck by a stun gun and it’s unclear whether he threw the machete or simply released it.

Deputy Prosecutor Kim Angay says one machete nearly struck an officer’s head. She urged two consecutive five-year prison terms.

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