Arnel Panieza and Emilia Panieza entered into a plea agreement to dissolve the charges of unlawful employment of an alien by non-trial disposition during Friday’s hearing.
Emilia Panieza appeared in court with her counsel Stephen Woodruff while Arnel Panieza appeared with attorney Joey San Nicolas on behalf of attorney Stephen Nutting. The government was represented by Assistant Attorney General Joseph Taijeron.
The court accepted the defendant’s plea of guilty to the offense after finding factual basis and finding that the defendants made a “free, voluntary and intelligent decision.”
Associate Judge David A. Wiseman sentenced both defendants to two years imprisonment, all suspended under the conditions that they will leave CNMI at their own expense in 21 days, pay a fine of $250 and an assessment fee of $25, pay court fees and obey all CNMI and federal laws prior to departure.
Wiseman exonerated the remaining balance of $225 from each of the defendant’s $500 bail after deducting fines and fees, and ordered the release of their travel documents to the defendants.
The court advised the defendants that they will be subject to revocation proceedings should they fail to comply with the conditions and violate any of the terms set by the court.
Wiseman set the status conference for Sept. 17 at 9 a.m.
The defendants were charged for seeking the services of an unlawful “sponsor” to hire and employ Dolores Agana, a nonresident, on March 6, 2007 in an effort to extend Agana’s stay in the CNMI and elude the labor and immigration laws.
