ST. CROIX — A man has been ordered to keep away from a woman he was involved in an intimate relationship with after he allegedly assaulted her.

Leonel Valencia was arrested on Monday afternoon after police responded to reports of a female in distress. When the officer arrived at the location, they observed a man exiting the residence and a woman behind him. 

According to the probable cause fact sheet, the man walked toward the police vehicle and began using his hands to gently massage the woman’s face, telling her that he loves her and that everything is okay. The man, later identified as Leonel Valencia then told the officer that everything was okay between him and the woman while asking the officer who had called the police. 

Valencia was taken in for questioning by police later that same day after police discovered evidence that strongly suggested that he had physically assaulted the woman. In a statement to police, he recounted that he had left the house earlier that day and then later returned to find that the woman had packed her bags and was getting ready to leave the house. He stated that he offered to help her and she refused.  According to his claims, the woman then told him to leave the house because her ex-boyfriend had called police and they were on their way to the house. Valencia said he told the woman that he wanted to be there to hear what the police had to say and that officers arrived shortly after. He denied having any physical altercation with the woman.

Valencia was later placed under arrest for disturbance of the peace and simple assault and battery as a crime of domestic violence. He was turned over to the Golden Grove adult correctional facility pending his advisement hearing which was scheduled for Wednesday.

At that hearing, the judge concluded that bail would be set at $1,000. The defendant will be allowed to post $101 in cash and sign an unsecured bond for the remainder. He is strictly prohibited from having any unlawful contact with the alleged victim and has been ordered to remain at least 1000 feet away from her at all times.

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