SUPERIOR Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, in a written order of protection Wednesday, said there is cause of domestic violence.
He said based “upon the matters adduced” at the hearing on the petition of Steven L. Koch, his wife and daughter for a temporary restraining order, respondents Rep. Vicente C. Camacho, Ignacio Salas Concepcion, Fiel Reynaldo Ortiz and Tiepo A. Nikiti shall not “molest, attack, strike, threaten, assault, batter, or disturb the peace” of Koch and his family members.
The respondents were also ordered “not have any direct or indirect contact with [Koch] and/or [his] family household members…including impeding their ingress/egress from the common road in Chinatown entering and passing by Ignacio Concepcion’s residence to their residence below his residence, including blocking or restricting access in any way.”
Judge Camacho, who is not related to the lawmaker, said the respondents “shall not enter or be present at the Chinatown property including that residence of Ignacio S. Concepcion at any time for any reason whether or not invited by Ignacio S. Concepcion.”
All the respondents “shall stay away at least 200 yards from the [Koch] residence.”
The court will not order the removal of Concepcion from his current residence, but he “shall not stand by the road on Freedom Drive or otherwise harass” Koch and his family members.
Judge Camacho also ordered the respondents to stay away at least 200 yards from Koch’s place of employment, the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport operating area “unless any respondent is traveling”; and from Mrs. Koch’s place of employment, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs-Childcare Development Fund House #1347.
“Respondents may travel on Airport Road but shall not travel back and forth on the Airport Road in a manner that is harassing to petitioners. Respondents may also travel on roads in the immediate vicinity of House #1347, but shall not travel on such roads in a manner that is harassing to petitioners,” the judge said.
“No respondent may call or disturb the petitioners and the children at their home in Chinatown or anywhere in Saipan or in the CNMI. Respondents shall not use or possess any firearm or other weapons. Respondents shall surrender any deadly weapon to the court,” the judge added.
Violations of the protective order may mean confinement in jail and/or a fine, he said.
At the show-cause hearing on Monday, Rep. Camacho appeared with attorney Michael White. Concepcion and Ortiz appeared without a lawyer. All three consented to the protective order and made no objection.
Koch and his family were represented by attorney Charity Hodson.
Koch said he was assaulted by Camacho, Camacho’s two nephews and an employee or tenant of Ignacio “Ike” Salas Concepcion.
The incident, which stemmed from a long-standing animosity between Koch and his brother-in-law, Concepcion, took place near the homes of Koch and Camacho on Freedom Drive, Chinatown around 11 p.m. on Oct. 29.
Koch suffered abrasions, bruising, and pain on his head and body from the blows, and was taken to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.
Representative Camacho, 60, will return to court for an arraignment on Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. before Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja.
The Office of the Attorney General’s criminal division has charged the lawmaker with assault & battery, and disturbing the peace.
Nikiti, 21, was also charged with assault & battery, and disturbing the peace, and will also appear in court for an arraignment on Nov. 16.
The other individual, who was also accused of assaulting Koch, is reported to be a 14-year-old juvenile.
