by Nick Delgado

Guam - Alex Castro was sentenced to a total of three years in jail. He was found guilty of 3^rd degree aggravated assault as a felony and assault and reckless conduct as misdemeanors. The conviction stemmed from an incident at a nightclub in Tumon.

Castro was accused of hitting a navy sailor who told Jurors during trial that it was the hardest he had ever been hit. Castro was remanded to the custody of Superior Court Marshals and ordered to pay 5-thousand dollars in court costs. Castro told Presiding Judge Alberto Lamorena that he was sorry he got into the fight and that he didn't hit him. He was under the influence and was just trying to protect his friend.

Castro told the Judge that he has changed over the last two and half years and feels he's been rehabilitated. The Presiding Judge however responded that although you are well respected in the community you are trained to kill. Lamorena said he is sending a message to the community because a lot of young guys look up to you as an MMA fighter and they do not want to be like the Alex Castro the night of the incident.

Defense Attorney Tom Fisher says he will file an appeal to the sentencing. If Castro can post $50,000 cash bail he will be released pending the outcome of the appeal.

Prior to the sentencing, Attorney Fisher requested the victim, Jarret Dunham, be present. Fisher argued before the court that Dunham's impact statement contradicts his true character. Fisher called attorney for The W Mike Berman to the stand. The 63-year old attorney said that about six months to a year after the bar fight, he encountered Dunham outside The W. He testified that Dunham tried to pick a fight with him for no reason and even tried to dance with his wife.

Berman said Dunham was lunging through the crowd in an aggressive manner. Berman called the victim "a liar and a conman". The presiding judge however said the argument should be brought up during Dunham's civil case in which he is suing Castro for restitution.

Castro is also scheduled to go to trial in December for a separate aggravated assault and robbery case. He along with Nicholas Brown are accused of tying a man up and beating him repeatedly back in 2010.