SHANGUO Zhang, a homeless protestor, is appealing his vandalism conviction last year.
Zhang, 44, filed the appeal representing himself or pro se and requested the local trial court to waive the filing fees.
In his appeal, Zhang said he is a beggar and a Chinese refugee who was unfairly sentenced.
Zhang, who is requesting a new trial, believes he was unlawfully detained.
Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho granted Zhang’s request not to pay court filing fees.
After a bench trial in October, the judge found Zhang guilty of vandalism, but did not find him guilty of disturbing the peace.
The judge sentenced him to pay a $250 fine and perform 40 hours of community service.
But Zhang was also found to have violated his probation in a previous case for which he pled guilty to spray-painting a police K-9 vehicle parked at the Department of Public Safety central office.
In that case he was ordered to serve three months in jail.
The court appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent Zhang if he decides to appeal his vandalism conviction, but the defendant chose to represent himself.
According to court documents, on June 15, 2021, Zhang, who was at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport, was told by a ports police officer to use a face mask as required by the Covid-19 safety protocols.
Zhang then picked up a rock and threw it at the window of the ports police office. The window was damaged and Zhang was arrested.
At the time, Zhang was still on probation for a previous criminal mischief and disturbing the peace case and was required to obey all CNMI and federal laws.
Zhang is a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, and is usually seen holding a sign while walking from the Civic Center in Susupe to Garapan. He said he is opposed to the Chinese Communist Party.
Shanguo Zhang holds a sign during a protest action on Beach Road across from the judicial building in Susupe in Sept. 2021.
