The administration had yet to respond to inquiries of this reporter regarding the arrest of Pedro Ilo Sablan, 62.
Sablan appeared before Superior Court Judge Kenneth L. Govendo for his probable cause hearing yesterday afternoon.
After hearing the testimony of government witness Detective Melissa Bauleong, Govendo ruled that there was probable cause for the continued detention of Sablan.
Chief Prosecutor Michael Ernest moved for a $25,000 bail which Govendo raised to $50,000.
Sablan told the court he was planning to get his own lawyer.
Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke and a staffer from the Public Defender’s Office left the courtroom after Sablan’s declaration.
Variety learned that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the CNMI Attorney General’s Office and the CNMI Department of Public Safety worked on the case.
In her testimony, Bauleong said DPS and the FBI invited Sablan to the FBI office on Saipan.
On Tuesday afternoon, Bauleong said Sablan went to the FBI office.
When confronted by federal and local authorities about the reported sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, Bauleong said Sablan waived his rights to have an attorney and confessed.
Bauleong said the sexual abuse occurred at the DYS shelter.
When asked by the court when the incident happened, Bauleong said the victim was in the shelter two years ago, and the assault occurred within a seven-month period.
Ernest said the government is charging Sablan with sexual abuse of a minor in the first and second degree, “and numerous other charges.”
Govendo ordered Sablan to stay away from all juvenile children except family members.
He was also told to surrender his passport to the court.
Sablan asked Govendo if he could be allowed to post a bond or 10 percent of bail, which the judge denied, saying “this is a serious charge.”
Sablan was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections after the hearing.
Last year, Division of Youth Services jail guard Tyron Farley Reyes Fitial was arrested by the FBI for forcing three female wards to engage in sexual acts. He has pleaded guilty to one count of enticing a minor and is due for sentencing in federal court.
The Attorney General’s Office also charged Fitial in Superior Court.
