HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — John Richard Bass III will spend 20 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Virginia Rose Peredo Laguana.
Almost 2-1/2 years after Bass was accused of stabbing Laguana at the Mai’Ana Airport Plaza, he pleaded guilty Monday afternoon in the Superior Court of Guam to the charge of manslaughter as a first-degree felony and possession and use of a deadly weapon, a knife, in the commission of a felony.
Despite Presiding Judge Alberto Lamorena III showing concern during a previous hearing over Bass’ plea being a “downgrade” from the initial murder charges to a plea of guilty to manslaughter – a lesser included offense of murder – he eventually accepted the plea after reading the victim’s impact statement.
The terms of the plea agreement resulted in Bass being sentenced to 20 years for manslaughter and 25 years for the special allegation, however, all but 20 years were suspended. Once Bass completes the sentence, he will be placed on parole for three years.
Additionally, Bass is ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, as well as restitution to the victim.
Stabbing
Bass was charged after the stabbing death of Laguana on June 6, 2021.
According to court documents, Laguana was stabbed more than a dozen times at the Mai’Ana Airport Plaza in Tamuning, where officers with the Guam Police Department arrived to find Laguana drenched in blood as her 19-year-old daughter cradled Laguana in her arms. Laguana’s daughter also was stabbed while trying to defend her mother, but survived.
According to Post files, Bass was Laguana’s boyfriend at the time of the stabbing.
John Richard Bass III pleads guilty to manslaughter during a change-of-plea hearing Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, at the Superior Court of Guam in Hagåtña.
