HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Nicholas Moore will be allowed to buy groceries and put gas in his car despite being on house arrest pending trials for cases in which he is charged with aggravated assault and murder.
Moore appeared Friday morning before Judge Vernon Perez in the Superior Court of Guam.
Moore’s appearance was for a request, made by defense attorney Michael Phillips, to modify Moore’s pretrial release conditions, which currently have Moore electronically monitored and placed on house arrest.
The reasoning for the request, according to Phillips, was because Moore’s parents are leaving island, making Moore responsible for their home and needing pretrial conditions eased so he is able to attend to “basic necessities” such as buying groceries, buying gas or paying bills.
In his initial arguments, Phillips pointed out that Moore has not violated his pretrial conditions since being placed on house arrest in Jun 2023. Moore’s probation officer confirmed Moore has been compliant.
Prosecutor Sean Brown said he was opposed to the modification mainly because Moore’s parents being off island means there will be no one to supervise Moore.
“The position is that we are very nervous about what this might mean for Mr. Moore, without that supervision,” Brown said.
Phillips, in response, said conditions which include Moore checking in with his probation officer will remain in effect.
Following further discussion, and Moore’s probation officer stating she would be OK with Moore being allowed to do grocery shopping as long as Moore gives 24 hours notice, Perez decided to partially grant Moore’s request.
Perez said Moore will be allowed to leave his home to go grocery shopping, purchase gas and pay bills under the condition he gives his probation officer a day’s notice.
Cases
Moore is on pretrial release for two 2021 cases related to an Oct. 15, 2020, shooting in Agana Heights and the slaying of Michael Castro, also in October 2020.
Moore went to trial for the shooting case in July 2022. The case was hindered by lengthy delays and a mistrial was ultimately declared in October 2023.
According to Post files, jury selection had started for Moore’s second trial, but was stopped again following a motion by Moore to disqualify the assigned judge, Alberto Tolentino. Perez reviewed the issue and determined Tolentino would stay on the case.
The Guam Daily Post was unable to confirm when Moore is scheduled to start his second trial.
Nicholas Moore is pictured in a file photo from Aug. 16, 2022, at the Superior Court of Guam in Hagåtña.
