CHIEF Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI has granted the unopposed request of attorney Robert T. Torres for a psychiatric assessment of Dwight Lee Deleon Guerrero Aldan who was indicted on the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
The judge directed the U.S. Probation Office to coordinate with the U.S. Marshals Service and the CNMI Department of Corrections in scheduling an expedited appointment for a psychiatric examination of Aldan, and to transport the defendant to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. Family Care Clinic.
“The psychiatric examination shall be done by a licensed psychiatrist at the Family Care Clinic and must be tailored to determining whether Aldan is a danger to himself, others, or the community,” the judge said.
Judge Manglona said the assessment shall be furnished to Aldan through his counsel, who shall provide the assessment to the U.S. Probation Office to be filed under seal.
According to the judge, Aldan’s mental competency is not at issue.
The U.S. government, who was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Albert S. Flores Jr., told the court that when he was about to be arrested, Aldan threatened to harm himself and law enforcement officers effecting the arrest.
Aldan held a knife to his throat and threatened self-harm as well as verbal threats to law enforcement, his court-appointed lawyer, Robert T. Torres noted.
“Only after calm negotiations with law enforcement did defendant surrender the knife and submit to arrest,” Torres added.
The defense attorney wants to find out whether Aldan’s release to the community “would pose a risk of danger….”
Torres said while Aldan was “emotionally volatile at time of his arrest he is not a threat to harm to himself, law enforcement, his family or this community.”
“Defendant has children and there is no allegation, even with the inference of drug use or abuse, that he has harmed or has threatened harm to his family,” added Torres who was appointed as Aldan’s attorney after attorney Steven Pixley withdrew from representing the defendant.
According to the indictment, on or about Dec. 22, 2020, Aldan “knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, U.S. Code, 22 Sections 841 (a)(1) and (b)(l)(A)(viii).”
Judge Manglona scheduled Aldan’s detention hearing for May 24 at 2:30 p.m. and jury trial for July 27, 2021 at 10 a.m.
