NEW HAVEN — A Meriden man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a 2021 assault that left a woman with life-threatening injuries.
Esteban Hernaiz, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree assault and one count of violating a protective order.
Judge Gerald L. Harmon handed down the sentence on May 28. Hernaiz will also serve eight years of special parole.
The assault occurred on Nov. 8, 2021, near 934 Broad St. in Meriden. Hernaiz followed the victim into a Shell gas station and struck her multiple times in the head with a baseball bat.
A protective order barring Hernaiz from contacting the victim was in place at the time of the attack.
The victim, who was in a relationship with Hernaiz at the time, suffered severe injuries but was prepared to testify had the case gone to trial.
The Meriden Police Department investigated the case.
