At victim’s request for treatment, Walla Walla assault suspect receives jail, monitoring

WALLA WALLA — In a resolution centered heavily on rehabilitation and healing, a local man who severely beat his girlfriend with a handgun last September was sentenced to 30 days in jail on Monday after the victim strongly advocated for him to receive treatment rather than a lengthy prison sentence.

Gerardo Salinas-Berumen, 30, entered a guilty plea in Walla Walla County Superior Court to an amended charge of third-degree domestic violence assault. Walla Walla County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Mulhern noted during the hearing that the victim suffered significant, long-term medical issues from the “horrible assault”—including an ongoing impact on her vision.

Yet, despite her severe injuries, Mulhern emphasized that the victim, who works in the mental health and substance use fields, proved to be one of the most forgiving individuals she had ever met. Appearing remotely via WebEx, the victim chose not to submit a victim impact statement, instead remaining steadfast in her primary goal for the case: ensuring Salinas-Berumen got the professional help he needed.

Prior to Monday’s mandate, Salinas-Berumen embraced that wish by aggressively pursuing drug, alcohol, and mental health counseling through Comprehensive Healthcare, maintaining 228 days of continuous sobriety. Judge Patricia Fulton commended his proactive behavior, noting it is rare for a defendant to take such complete initiative before being ordered by a court.

Judge Fulton credited Salinas-Berumen with eight days of time served and ordered the remaining 22 days to be served on electronic home monitoring at his own expense. He faces a June 14 deadline to establish the monitoring setup, alongside a five-year no-contact order, a mandatory DNA sample, and a lifelong firearm prohibition. Restitution will be determined within six months.

File photo of Walla Walla County Superior Courthouse

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Elkhorn Media Group