By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

THE federal court has ordered that a man arrested for conducting a drug transaction while his minor child was in the rear seat of the car be detained by the CNMI Department of Corrections pending further proceedings in court.
U.S. District Court for NMI Chief Judge Alex Munson in his order on Monday said Sheng Lin was to be confined in a corrections facility “separate, to the extent practicable, from persons awaiting or serving sentences or being held in custody pending appeal.”
Lin appeared for a preliminary hearing on Thursday with attorney Steven Pixley.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Moore moved that Lin be held in detention without bail.
Lin’s counsel did not argue and reserved the right to file a motion at a later time.
Munson granted the government’s motion and ordered that Lin be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service.
Munson said he considered the evidence presented by the government, including the testimony of the police officer, in granting the motion for Lin’s detention.
He said the court notes that in this particular case, the defendant “displayed a disregard for the safety of his own child by conducting a drug transaction in a car while the child was the rear seat of his vehicle.”
“For all of these reasons, the court finds that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the appearance of the defendant as required and the safety of any other person and the community,” Munson’s order stated.
He said Lin will be delivered to the U.S. Marshal Service by a CNMI corrections officer for the purpose of an appearance in connection with federal court proceedings.
The complaint submitted in court stated that Lin was arrested on April 13 during a buy-bust operation in the Price Costco parking lot in San Jose.
The cooperating source managed to buy three grams of methamphetamine from Lin.
The cooperating source was supposed to purchase five grams for $1,100.
Lin came to the agreed venue with his minor son.
After Lin was taken into custody, the minor son was also taken into custody for safety and was later released to his mother.