HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A former mixed martial arts fighter’s pretrial release has been revoked in a case where he was accused of several acts of assault last year.
Magistrate Judge Jonathan Quan, on Tuesday morning in the Superior Court of Guam, committed Ricky Mike Camp to the Department of Corrections on $7,000 cash bail.
Camp’s confinement came as a result of a motion to revoke his pretrial release filed by the Office of the Attorney General.
Assistant Attorney General Steven Coaty argued the motion before Quan and stated Camp’s pretrial release should be revoked because Camp has failed to remain in contact with the Judiciary’s Adult Probation Office. According to Camp’s pretrial release conditions, he was ordered to report to his probation officer three times a week.
The probation officer at the Tuesday hearing further said Camp had not reported since Nov. 22, 2023.
“At the end of the day, he has failed to maintain court directives and be in contact with the probation office,” Coaty said, adding it was an indication Camp would not follow future court orders.
In response, Camp’s attorney, Peter Santos from the Alternate Public Defender, argued Camp has not had any “substantive violations” such as testing positive for drugs or committing another offense while on release.
Additionally, Santos said it’s not unusual for defendants to attempt to call probation, but not be able to make contact.
“Sometimes defendants called in, and they just get a busy signal or the phone rings, and they’re unable to make contact,” said Santos, admitting Camp has been “lackadaisical,” but saying a revocation was not warranted.
“We respectfully urge the court and suggest to the court that does not warrant revocation. A stern warning, maybe a sanction, but not revocation. Revocation is an extreme remedy to the particular facts and circumstances in this case,” Santos added.
Quan
After Coaty rebutted Santos’ arguments by suggesting that, because of the violations, Camp did not recognize that the case was a priority, Quan took a moment to speak to Camp directly.
“Do you want to tell me why you can’t pick up the phone since Nov. 22 (2023) when I ordered you to do so?” Quan said in a stern voice.
Quan, who initially released Camp after he was charged, further reminded Camp if he was unable to get hold of the probation office, he needed to find a way to get to the office in person.
“I said to you, if you don’t have a phone, walk, use a bicycle, skateboard, public transit or hitch a ride, but you better get down to Probation before 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday if you cannot call. I said that to you verbatim,” Quan said.
“You want to tell me why I’ve gone five weeks without a phone call or you showing up?” Quan asked.
Camp responded he had shown up to probation in person, but was told he still had to call. Quan asked Camp exactly how many times he has reported, but Camp said he didn’t know.
Quan then asked why Camp disobeyed his orders.
“Just life I’ve moved from where I’m staying. I got released from my job. And I’ve been trying to look for a job right now. … I got bills to pay,” said Camp, who continued to receive questions from Quan as to why Camp couldn’t call.
After briefly speaking with Santos, Camp added, “That is no excuse. If I got a chance, then I’ll continue to check in, I’ll continue to call.”
However, Quan decided he would commit Camp to DOC on $7,000 cash bail.
Incident
Camp’s charges stem from different incidents throughout 2023 when he was accused of assault.
The first, according to court documents, was reported on March 19, 2023, when Camp allegedly assaulted a man in the parking lot of King’s Restaurant in Tamuning.
Camp, who approached and “berated” the man and his friend during the interaction, allegedly used his right shoulder to press against the man’s shoulder, punched him with an “uppercut” at the bottom of the man’s jaw, striking him multiple times.
When the man tried to get away and was backed against a car door, Camp then allegedly kicked the man’s midsection approximately three times.
The second incident reported occurred on Aug. 27, 2023, when a man told officers with the Guam Police Department that he was “jumped by Camp and possibly two other males in front of Tumon bar, Livehouse,” according to the magistrate’s complaint.
Camp allegedly told the man he wanted to fight him, despite reporting he had no reason to fight Camp.
“Sometime during this interaction, one unknown male ‘sucker-punched’ him, and the defendant punched him in a ‘one-two’ punch combination. Afterwards, (the victim) told officers that ‘as he was collapsing to the ground, a possible third unknown male struck him in the back of the head with (what) may have been a hard object,'” the complaint stated.
The man, as a result, became unconscious and police later observed during an injury check that the man was bleeding from his nose, mouth and left ear and had abrasions on his left knee, a small cut to his left eyebrow and bruising to his right eye.
“The report indicates that (the victim) was treated at the Guam Memorial Hospital and received five staples to the back of his head,” the complaint stated.
Joseph Christopher Mendiola, Camp’s co-defendant and friend, allegedly admitted to being with Camp at the time of the incident and to punching the man’s face.
Ricky Mike Camp
