HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A man who has been facing an attempted murder charge for more than two years is set to plead guilty.
Jensen Develles was scheduled to go to trial this week in the Superior Court of Guam on charges stemming from an August 2021 shooting. However, he is now expected to plead guilty.
During a pretrial conference before Judge Vernon Perez on Monday, Develles’ attorney, Christine Arriola, revealed they were “inclined” to accept an offer from the Office of the Attorney General. Arriola added she and Develles were awaiting the plea to be put in writing.
No details of the plea were revealed at the hearing, although Arriola confirmed Develles will be sentenced to an agreed upon prison term as opposed to a range of time.
Perez seeks to have the change of plea hearing set for next month.
“The intended trial for Mr. Develles is no longer pending given the agreement,” Perez said as he concluded the hearing.
Dededo shooting
Develles and his co-defendant, Justin Michael Duenas, were charged in connection to an August 2021 shooting at a residence on Trankilo Court in Dededo, according to court documents.
The shooting, which sent a man to the hospital, allegedly was the result of a dispute regarding the victim owing $700 in a game of darts.
The victim told officers with the Guam Police Department that Develles and Duenas entered the residence armed with handguns. They got into a fight and Duenas shot the victim in the chest, documents state.
Duenas has since pleaded guilty to aggravated assault as a second-degree felony with a special allegation of possession or use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.
Duenas faces between seven and 25 years in prison. He had been awaiting sentencing pending the resolution of Develles’ case.
Jensen Belga Develles
