THE Superior Court has handed a 20-day jail term to a man who, when he was a police officer, pocketed the vehicle registration renewal fee paid by a motorist on Rota.
Following a plea agreement, Associate Judge David A. Wiseman sentenced Melvin M. Manglona to two years imprisonment, all suspended except 20 days.
Wiseman ordered Manglona to start serving his jail term at the Division of Corrections on Saipan tomorrow at 8 a.m.
The judge said Manglona will be placed on 24-month probation and required to perform 100 hours of community work service.
Wiseman said the defendant will pay $40 in restitution to the victim, a $250 fine, and $200 in assessment and probation fees.
Manglona was charged with two counts of misconduct in public office and two counts of misdemeanor theft.
Court papers showed that on Aug. 24, 1998, the defendant, on behalf of the Department of Public Safety, took money from Lorenzo S. Lacsina for vehicle registration renewal fee. However, he did not give the vehicle registration to the customer.
The Attorney General’s Office said Manglona committed theft “while being a police officer and acting under color of title.”
It was also alleged that the defendant did the same thing to another person on Sept. 11, 1998.
