SERGIO Mangarero Rangamar has asked the Superior Court to disallow any testimony regarding his previous police encounters in his trial.
The Office of the Attorney General has charged him with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of disturbing the peace.
Rangamar was arrested on July 19, 2023 after he was accused of shooting a couple with a pellet rifle, and injuring one of them in the leg.
Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio, who is handling the case, has scheduled a jury trial for Jan. 16, 2024, at 9 a.m.
Rangamar, represented by Assistant Public Defender Molly Dennert, has filed a motion in limine to prohibit testimony regarding her client’s “alleged previous police encounters.”
Dennert wants the court to issue an order “prohibiting the government from adducing testimony in front of the jury regarding alleged previous police encounters with the defendant and requiring the government to instruct its witnesses to that effect.”
“Per the NMI Rules of Evidence, testimony regarding Mr. Rangamar’s criminal history, uncharged bad acts, and previous police encounters is irrelevant, unduly prejudicial, hearsay, and inadmissible character evidence,” Dennert said.
In a separate motion, she asked the court to issue an order compelling the AG’s office to disclose the drug court program records of the alleged female victim in the case.
Specifically, Dennert requests information regarding the alleged victim’s substance use, instances of dishonesty, and other information that could be considered Brady material.
Brady material “is evidence known to the prosecution that is favorable to a defendant’s case and material to the issue of guilt or to punishment and that the prosecution is obligated to disclose to the defense.”
According to the complaint against Rangamar, a couple was walking home after buying groceries in Chalan Laulau when the defendant started yelling at them.
The woman identified the man as Rangamar, who, she said, is related to her children’s father.
She said Rangamar got down from a heavy machine equipment and went to his tin house, which was nearby. When he exited the house, he ran toward them while holding a gun, she added.
The woman said the gun was long and black “like what green toy soldiers carry.”
She said two or three shots were fired at her, adding that her right ankle was hit.
Her companion told the police that Rangamar then fumbled with the ammunition magazine before again pointing the gun in their direction.
He said Rangamar told them, “You better start running.” But the man said they did not run as they were in shock. He said he does not know Rangamar.
The woman’s companion said he tried to shield her when Rangamar shot them five times.
He said the woman told him that she was shot and he saw blood coming out of her right ankle. As they left the area, he said he saw Rangamar walking back to a yellow excavator.
Police later found an empty Crossman .22 caliber pellet container outside Rangamar’s residence.
Sergio Rangamar
