THE U.S. Marshal arrested on Thursday a landowner who failed to appear for a criminal contempt hearing in federal court.
Variety learned that U.S. Deputy Marshal Marshall Wayne Pickering saw John S. Pangelinan walking on Capitol Hill.
Pickering served the arrest warrant issued on that same day by U.S. District Court Judge Pro Tempore Edward Manibusan. Pangelinan cooperated with the arresting officer.
On Friday afternoon, Pangelinan was taken before Manibusan.
The defendant stated that there was no basis for the charges filed against him because the court had no jurisdiction regarding the case.
Manibusan informed the defendant that he would go to trial on Aug. 12.
The judge allowed the temporary release of Pangelinan on a $10,000 unsecured bond. He said Pangelinan will not be allowed to leave the CNMI without the court’s written permission.
The judge also prevented the defendant from having any contact either in writing or in person or on the phone with Marianas Seaside Development Co.
The court appointed former Judge Timothy H. Bellas to represent the defendant in the case. An arraignment was set for June 12.
For failing to show in court on Thursday, Manibusan ordered the U.S. Marshal and any authorized federal officers to arrest Pangelinan for criminal contempt.
Last May 24, U.S. District Court Judge Alex R. Munson ordered Pangelinan to appear in court and explain why he should not be found in criminal contempt for disobeying the court’s order regarding a civil case.
Last June 3, Pangelinan filed a $11.7 million lawsuit against Munson and attorney Charles Rotbart for allegedly depriving him of his real properties on Saipan.
The lawsuit prompted Munson to recuse himself from presiding over the criminal contempt proceedings as well as in Pangelinan’s civil action.
