a guilty plea to a lesser included offense and was given a probation sentence.
Jesse Secharmidal Peredo, one of the two defendants charged with theft, conspiracy and criminal mischief, appeared in court for a change of plea hearing on April 30.
Peredo, through attorney Perry Inos, entered a guilty plea to a lesser included offense of criminal mischief.
Assistant Attorney General Timothy Connor agreed to dismiss the other charges.
Judge Ramona V. Manglona accepted the plea and sentenced Peredo to one year of imprisonment, all suspended except for the first 14 days with credit for 14 days already served from Feb. 9 to 23, 2007.
Peredo was placed on probation for one year and was ordered to pay a fine of $100 and a $25 assessment fee.
He was ordered to submit an apology letter to the Saipan Mayor’s Office and to Pacific Telecommunications Inc.
He will also pay a restitution fee in the amount of $481.85.
He will perform 80 hours of community work service, with no conversion to a fine, at a minimum rate of 5 hours per month.
Manglona said the court previously concluded that the case was a copper wire theft but the prior prosecutor argued that it was a theft of telephone cables.
Peredo and co-defendant Erwin Evence were charged for conspiracy to commit theft, theft and criminal mischief for damaging and stealing PTI cables at the mayor’s office on Jan. 15, 2007.
