HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A recently terminated Guam Police Department officer accused of aggravated assault will be able to use nonlethal weapons for his new job as a security guard at Pay-Less Markets.
Peter Jesse Perez Leon Guerrero appeared in the Superior Court of Guam on Monday for a motion to modify his pretrial release conditions.
Leon Guerrero’s attorney, Michael Phillips, explained in his arguments to Judge Vernon Perez, that Leon Guerrero, since being fired from GPD following charges of aggravated assault, had been employed with Pay-Less Markets as a security guard.
Phillips requested to modify Leon Guerrero’s conditions to allow him to use nonlethal weapons since Leon Guerrero’s new job as a security guard requires him to use them.
Additionally, Phillips also asked if Leon Guerrero’s pretrial release condition prohibiting the consumption of alcohol could be lifted.
Prosecutor Sean Brown, in response, deferred to Perez in making the decision.
Perez said he didn’t have issues with Leon Guerrero using nonlethal weapons for his job, adding the restriction would just prohibit Leon Guerrero from carrying firearms or deadly weapons.
The problem Perez said he had though was lifting the alcohol consumption condition.
“In my 15 years as a judge, not even once, not even for a wedding toast. … (The) truth is, for any and all cases that are of (a) criminal type, that restriction remains,” Perez said regarding alcohol consumption.
Altercation
Leon Guerrero was charged with aggravated assault as a third-degree felony in connection to an altercation on July 30, 2023, at the beachside area of Nana’s Cafe in Tumon.
According to the magistrate’s complaint, Leon Guerrero’s brother had reportedly gotten into a “scuffle” with Frederico Santiago. After family members stopped the fight, Leon Guerrero allegedly approached Santiago from behind and struck him, which led Santiago to be unconscious and suffer injuries to his face.
Leon Guerrero was, at the time, an officer with GPD. However, after an internal investigation was launched, Leon Guerrero was terminated. According to Post files, Leon Guerrero is appealing his firing with the Civil Service Commission, but proceedings will wait on the criminal proceedings.
Leon Guerrero is scheduled to return to court May 7 for a pretrial conference.
Peter Jesse Perez Leon Guerrero
