"I need to report my husband is driving drunk and he just assaulted me."
These words came out of Joe Villasenor's wife last December, according to KPHO News. Now Mr. Villasenor, who used to be the senior aide to Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, is facing domestic-violence assault charges.
Yet, Mr. Villasenor denies driving under the influence of alcohol and claims that he did not assault his wife.
KPHO reports that he told an officer, "I have never raised a hand to my wife. I have never hit my wife. I have never, I mean, we've said hateful things to each other over the course of the marriage and arguments. But it hasn't been, there's never been a situation like this."
The Arizona Republic reports that Mr. Villasenor admitted that he was very intoxicated the night of the alleged attack. He says he consumed four beers and five tequila shots, and stated that he was so drunk that night that he doesn't remember how he got from his Litchfield Park home to his sister's central Phoenix residence.
Phoenix DUI attorneys know that domestic violence cases are often linked to excessive alcohol consumption. The Marin Institute reports that two-thirds of victims of intimate partner violence reported that alcohol was involved in their domestic violence incidents. Women whose partners abuse alcohol are also 3.6 times more likely than other women to be assaulted by their partners.
In early January, Mr. Villasenor was put on indefinite unpaid leave at the mayor's office, according to The Arizona Republic. However, Mr. Villasenor resigned from his position as senior assistant in February.
Related Resources:
- Drunk Driving FAQ (FindLaw)
- Domestic Violence - Criminal Law (FindLaw)
- Phoenix DUI Attorney Directory (FindLaw)
