During the bail hearing yesterday, Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo ordered Terry Ann M. Pangelinan of Garapan to post 10 percent of the $6,000 bail, or $600, in cash.
If she posts bail, she must return to court whenever required to do so, obey all commonwealth laws, surrender her travel documents and not leave the CNMI without court permission.
She must stay away from all seaports and airports and must not have any connection with her common-law husband and their children.
The defendant appeared in court represented by Assistant Public Defender Matthew Holley. Assistant Attorney General Mike Evangelista appeared on behalf of the government.
Govendo set the preliminary hearing for March 16 and the arraignment for March 23.
Detective Andrea C. Ozawa in her affidavit stated that the defendant’s common-law husband reported a child abuse incident at 6:07 p.m. on Sunday.
The complainant asked the police to see his 11-year-old daughter living with the defendant, his common-law wife.
The police officer who responded to the scene met the defendant who told him that nothing was going on, but the officer saw red marks on the child’s neck.
The child told police that her mother choked her, pulled her hair, slammed her on the bed and punched her after her mother caught her talking with her father on the telephone.
The child said her mother grabbed the telephone and told the complainant that she was choking the victim at that time.
The victim and her two minor siblings were brought to the Department of Public Safety where they waited for the arrival of personnel from the Division of Youth Services’ child protective unit.
The victim had fever and was brought to the Commonwealth Health Center for treatment.
The child also had bruises on her arms, legs, ears and neck.
The Attorney General’s Office found probable cause to charge the defendant with one count of child abuse and one count of assault and battery.
