By Gina Tabonares
Variety News Staff

A DISMISSED member of the Guam Police Department who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges will appeal the court’s decision denying his petition to correct his sentence.
Jason Coburian Ortiola, 27, filed a motion for certificate of “appealability” to appeal the District Court of Guam judgment on his petition to set aside his Sept. 20, 2006 sentencing.
The court ordered Ortiola to serve a total of six years of incarceration to be followed by a total of three years of supervised release.
Ortiola’s complaint that he was not given proper legal assistance by his former attorney, Howard Trapp, was dismissed by the District Court of Guam on April 18.
Last Friday, Ortiola, through Assistant Federal Public Defender Richard P. Arens, asked the court to issue a certificate of appeal reiterating that the former GPD member has made a substantial showing of the denial of his constitutional right.
Arens stated that his client was denied of his right to effective assistance of counsel as a result of counsel’s failure to ascertain whether petitioner sought to appeal the sentence imposed.