Garden Grove man who attacked his girlfriend with a meat cleaver arraigned

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 16WF0125

Date: January 21, 2016

MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR ATTACKING WOMAN WITH WHOM HE IS ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED WITH MEAT CLEAVER AFTER ARGUMENT IN GARDEN GROVE APARTMENT

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is scheduled to be arraigned today on charges of attacking a woman with whom he is romantically involved with a meat cleaver after an argument in their Garden Grove apartment. Thang Van Nguyen, 46, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count of attempted murder, one felony count of aggravated mayhem, and one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury with sentencing enhancement allegations for great bodily injury committed during domestic violence, great bodily injury resulting in brain injury and paralysis, and the personal use of a meat cleaver. If convicted, Nguyen faces a maximum sentence of 13 years to life in state prison. Nguyen is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon, Jan. 21, 2016, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Nguyen and Jane Doe were involved in a romantic relationship and lived with their children in an apartment in Garden Grove.

At approximately 6:45 a.m. on Jan. 19, 2016, Nguyen is accused of verbally arguing with Jane Doe in the apartment. During the course of the argument, Nguyen is accused of walking into the kitchen and grabbing a meat cleaver and attacking the victim. He is accused of swinging the meat cleaver at her head and leaving her severely wounded with deep lacerations.

The children were in the residence at the time of the crime, but were not harmed.

The defendant contacted the Garden Grove Fire Department and paramedics transported the victim to the University of California Irvine, Medical Center for treatment of her injuries which include brain injury. Jane Doe is currently in a medically induced coma.

The Garden Grove Police Department investigated this case.

Deputy District Attorney Terry Cleaveland of the Family Protection Unit is prosecuting this case.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718