(New Haven, CT) - New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr. today announced that the Honorable Gerald L. Harmon on May 28, 2025 sentenced Esteban Hernaiz, age 57, of Meriden, to serve 12 years in prison, followed by eight years of special parole for the November 2021 assault of a female victim in Meriden.
Hernaiz entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault in the First Degree, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-59, and one count of Violation of a Protective Order, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-223.
The assault occurred on November 8, 2021 in the area of 934 Broad Street in Meriden. The victim, who was in a relationship with Hernaiz at the time, fled from Hernaiz and entered a Shell Gas station, where Hernaiz followed her and struck her multiple times in the head with a baseball bat. The victim suffered severe, life-threatening injuries as a result of the assault. There was a court-ordered protective order in place at the time which prohibited Hernaiz from having any contact with the victim. The conduct of Hernaiz on November 8, 2021 violated that court order. Notwithstanding her serious life-altering injuries, the victim had been prepared to testify at trial had Hernaiz not pleaded guilty.
The case was investigated by the Meriden Police Department and was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa R. Holmes and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Thomas Bransfield, who were assisted by Inspector Jeffrey Cortes and Inspector Kevin Grenier.
State’s Attorney Doyle would like to extend his gratitude to the Meriden Police Department for their investigative efforts and Office of Victim Services Advocate Christie Ciancola for her advocacy on behalf of the victim.