Editors Note: This article was originally published in the Nov. 1, 2023 issue of the Chronicle Progress. Some information may be outdated.
A California woman was charged with assault after she allegedly attacked her father in a moving vehicle last Wednesday.
Joann Marie Hernandez, 29, was arrested after a witness alerted the Millard County Sheriff’s Office of a woman punching a man in the face. According to a probable cause report in the matter, “it was later learned the relationship was father (victim) and daughter (suspect).”
The report states the victim flagged down a passerby, and when the witness approached the pickup, was told “to call 911 by the father.”
The witness allegedly saw Hernandez, later identified by her driver’s license, “punching her father in the face and also climb on top of him continuing to assault him.”
Upon arrival, the responding deputy placed Hernandez in handcuffs and spoke with the victim. The man told the deputy, “he moved Joann to the area for detox for alcohol and get clean from drugs,” and thought Hernandez was experiencing withdrawals.
The victim continued to state the attack occurred a few miles from where they had parked, when Hernandez started to hit him, trying to grab the steering wheel from his hands in attempt to cause a crash.
The victim was able to pull to the side of the road where Hernandez began to hit him again. The victim stated he covered his head in an effort to protect himself, but was repeatedly struck. The victim said he didn’t fight back due to Hernandez’s mental state.
During the attack, the victim stated Hernandez had allegedly wrapped a seatbelt around his neck, stating “kill me.”
The victim also provided the deputy with a THC “vape” pen, stating Hernandez was trying to smoke.
Hernandez is charged with second-degree felony aggravated assault and Class B misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. She is currently being held in the Millard County Jail without bail, and is scheduled to appear for a waiver hearing Wednesday.
