By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

SUPERIOR Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman said he was reluctant to accept the plea agreement involving the former cashier of the Tinian Health Center charged with theft.
The court, he said, “believes that a great scourge to any society or community is corruption in any form and especially in the form of a breach of the public trust that is vested in employees working for the government.”
Wiseman, however, said he accepted the plea of Renada Maelyn San Nicolas Palacios after finding “substantial mitigating factors.”
Wiseman said Palacios has no criminal record and has taken full responsibility for her actions.
“Considering the very special terms and conditions of the plea agreement, the court believes it to be in the best interests of justice to accept the defendant’s plea,” the judge said.
Wiseman in his sentencing order on Wednesday said there is a need “to send the deterrent message to others that such corrupt conduct cannot and will not be tolerated.”
Wiseman noted, however, that “actions in this case of taking government funds were limited to a one-month period and the defendant shortly thereafter turned herself in to her employer, resigned and offered to make full restitution.”
Palacios also agreed “to initiate a program of instruction for students on Rota, Tinian and Saipan at her own expense and inform the students about the wrong she had done and the serious adverse repercussions that await anyone who commits such crimes.”
Palacios was convicted on April 13 after she pleaded guilty to theft by failure to make the required disposition of funds received.
Wiseman sentenced Palacios to one year of imprisonment but all suspended.
She was placed on supervised probation for one year and was ordered to submit a letter of apology to the Tinian Health Center.
Palacios will likewise perform 120 hours of community work service at a minimum rate of 10 hours per month.
Palacios will pay a fine of $500, an assessment fee of $25, and restitution of $6,926.40..
Palacios was charged for the theft of $6,926 from the Tinian Health Center on Oct. 4, 2006 and Nov. 8, 2006 during her employment as cashier.