By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

TWO men indicted for taking endangered species received probation sentences on Friday.
U.S. District Court for NMI Chief Judge Alex Munson placed former Indigenous Affairs Office resident executive Ignacio DLG. Demapan and Jin Kun Chen on one-year probation.
Munson also ordered Demapan and Chen to each perform 100 hours of community service and pay a special assessment fee of $25.
Moreover, they will prepare 10- page, double-spaced typewritten reports on the importance of preserving endangered species.
The report must be submitted to the court prior to Feb. 19.
Upon the court’s review and approval of the report, Demapan will arrange to present it to three school classes.
Demapan, who was one of the Covenant Party’s losing House candidates in the 2001 elections, will notify a probation officer who will be in attendance at each presentation.
His community work service must be completed within two months from Jan. 19.
Chen was ordered to have his report on the importance of protecting an endangered species published in two Chinese newspapers on Saipan.
The report is to be submitted to the Probation Office then to the court for approval before its publication.
The defendants were ordered not to commit another federal or local crime and are prohibited from using or possessing dangerous weapons or controlled substances.
Demapan was represented by attorney Stephanie Flores while Chen’s defense counsel was George Hasselback.