By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

SUPERIOR Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman has rejected the plea entered by the former cashier of the Tinian Health Center who was charged for stealing money from the center.
Renada Maelyn SN. Palacios, through her counsel Joey San Nicolas, entered a guilty plea to theft as charged in count II of the information filed by the Attorney General’s Office in court.
But Wiseman rejected the plea and set the matter for jury trial in April.
Palacios asked the court for reconsideration which Wiseman denied.
In rejecting the plea, the judge said accepting it might send the wrong message to the community.
He said the defendant, as a government employee, abused and destroyed the public trust.
The judge said although the defendant had shown remorse for the offense, “plea agreements may not invade the traditionally judicial functions and the court has to balance other factors.”
Under the agreement, Palacios would have pleaded guilty to theft of property and be sentenced to 30 days of imprisonment, all suspended except for one day with credit for one day of time already served.
Palacious, moreover, would be placed on probation for a period of one year, pay a fine of $200 and restitution in the amount of $6,926.40, and submit a letter of apology to the Tinian Health Center.
If convicted, Palacios will be facing a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.
Palacios was charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received and theft for stealing $6,926.40 from the Tinian Health Center on or between Oct. 4, 2006 and Nov. 8, 2006.