SUPERIOR Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo has sentenced Juan Taitano, also known as “JT-1,” to a year in prison for assault and battery (domestic violence), but all suspended except for 120 days to be served day for day without the possibility of early release, weekend release, or other similar programs.
Taitano was also given credit for a day of time served.
After Taitano pled guilty to the charge of assault and battery, Judge Govendo granted the prosecution’s request to dismiss the other charges.
Initially, Taitano was charged with assault and battery (domestic violence), disturbing the peace, vandalism, assault, and reckless burning.
At the change of plea hearing on May 30, Taitano was represented by Assistant Public Defender Karie Comstock while Assistant Attorney General David Karch appeared for the government.
In a four-page judgment and conviction and commitment order, Judge Govendo ordered Taitano to report to the Department of Corrections today, Monday, June 3, at 5 p.m. to begin his sentence. He will be released from custody on Sept. 30 at 5 p.m.
After serving his sentence, Taitano will be placed on two years of supervised probation through the Office of the Adult Probation.
He will pay $250 in court costs, and a $240 probation fee.
Taitano was likewise ordered not to have any contact with his girlfriend, who was the victim in the case, and a minor child.
Judge Govendo required Taitano to participate in and complete any counseling or course of treatment (i.e., substance use, alcohol, anger management) as deemed necessary by the Office of the Adult Probation or the Community Guidance Center.
He shall not possess or consume any alcohol, marijuana or other illegal substances, and shall submit to random drug testing of his blood, breath or urine any time the Office of the Adult Probation so demands, the judge said.
Taitano is also forbidden from possessing or using any firearm, dangerous device and weapon, ammunition or soft air weapon as part of his probation conditions.
Failing to obey all CNMI and federal laws, (except for convictions for minor traffic infractions) shall be grounds for revocation of probation and/or contempt charges according to the judge.
The complaint
Police arrested Taitano on Nov. 3, 2023.
According to the victim, Taitano was drunk and shouting inside her apartment unit in Finasisu at around 10 p.m. and saying that their neighbors were watching porn. But she said their neighbors weren’t home and Taitano “was really drunk,” and continued to drink beer.
She said he later grabbed their youngest child and told her he would take the baby to his house in Dandan.
She said she managed to get her baby back and told Taitano to leave. Taitano then started “breaking stuff” in the apartment and pressed her head to his chest.
She said she started crying for help. Taitano finally released her after she bit him, but he also kicked her in the right leg, punched her in the left arm, and head-butted her in the mouth while she was holding her baby.
The victim said while she was calling the police, Taitano threw a bottle of chili sauce at her before leaving the apartment in a Toyota RAV4.
She told responding police officers that minutes later, Taitano sent her a message telling her that he was burning her clothes and her other belongings at his house in Dandan.
At around 11:40 p.m., officers proceeded to Taitano’s house in Dandan where they saw fire at the residence. Taitano was “shouting that everything was okay,” police said.
The responding officers arrested Taitano and transported him to the Department of Corrections where he was booked and detained.
