In yesterday’s hearing, Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo sentenced Jessie Joseph Q. Saralu to a 10-year jail term, all suspended except for six years and a probation of four years.
Saralu will pay $500 in fines, $2,000 in restitution, serve 500 hours community work, and obey all CNMI and federal laws.
He was prohibited from taking alcohol or drugs and to go near any poker places during his probation period.
While in custody, Saralu will participate in “ice” education talks at CNMI private and public schools.
Saralu, through his counsel Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke, entered into a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to the robbery charges during yesterday’s hearing.
The government was represented by Assistant Attorney General Joseph L.G. Taijeron.
In an affidavit, Detective Kevin R. Maratita said the Department of Public Safety central command received a call for assistance from a woman at around 11:30 a.m. on March 21, 2008 at the Amiga Market in Sadog Tase.
Upon arriving at the scene, police officers learned that the poker game room had been robbed of $2,000.
The suspect who wore a black tank top, black baseball cap and blue shorts, was identified by authorities when they reviewed the surveillance footage of the poker game room.
The affidavit stated that witnesses saw Saralu walking out of the poker game room and getting into a blue Nissan Altima before driving up toward Capital Hill.
On the same day, the Court issued a warrant of arrest for Saralu and a search was launched.
Police officers spotted the vehicle Saralu used at around 3:19 a.m. on March 23 in San Roque.
When the officers tried to pull the vehicle driven by Saralu over, he refused to stop.
A high-speed chase ensued from San Roque until Saralu’s car crashed into a residential house on Egigi Drive on Capital Hill.
Saralu was arrested and brought to the Department of Corrections where he was booked and detained.
Under CNMI law, robbery is punishable by imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of not more than $10,000 or both.
