Jay Billy, 20, and JR Tipengeni, a.k.a., “Awatan,” 19, are escorted by Corrections officers at the local courthouse for a bail hearing on Dec. 16, 2024.
ROBBERY defendants Jay Billy, 20, and JR Tipengeni, a.k.a. “Awatan,” 19, are facing life imprisonment for kidnapping, according to Assistant Attorney General Heather Barcinas.
At a bail hearing before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho on Monday morning, Barcinas said because the victim managed to escape and was not voluntarily released by the defendants, “it triggered” the life imprisonment sentence for kidnapping.
Billy, Tipengeni and three male juveniles have been charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault and battery, robbery, and disturbing the peace.
Their victim was a taxi driver, and the incident occurred Tuesday evening last week in Koblerville.
A robbery charge carries 20 years’ imprisonment and a $10,000 fine, or both. An aggravated assault and battery charge carries 10 years’ imprisonment and a $10,000 fine, or both. The disturbing the peace charge carries six months’ imprisonment and a $500 fine, or both.
The three male juveniles, who are 15 years old, were scheduled for a bail hearing on the same day with the same judge, but the court proceedings were sealed because they are minors.
Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds, in a statement to reporters, said, “The criminal division is seriously considering charging the minors as adults because of the seriousness and violent nature of the crime.”
Billy was represented by Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig, while the court will appoint a defense attorney for Tipengeni.
Background
On Friday, the Department of Public Safety sought the community’s assistance regarding a robbery incident that was reported on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at around 8:35 p.m. at Coral Ocean Resort in Koblerville.
Based on a preliminary investigation, a group of five males had called for a taxi service at the Cool Laundry in Fina Sisu, Assistant Chief of Police Simon Manacop said.
“A taxi operator later arrived and picked up the five males who requested to be dropped off at a pavilion located in the beach area of…Coral Ocean Resort,” he added. “Officers learned from the taxi operator that when they arrived in the beach area…, one of the occupants used the seat belt to choke him while others started punching his face and head. The operator was able to run away and reach another pavilion where he sought assistance from people who were at the pavilion to call for police. The victim sustained injuries to his face and was later transported to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation for treatment,” Manacop said.
“Officers further learned that the perpetrators were able to take the victim’s cell phones and cash that was secured in a fanny pack,” Manacop said.
After a viral video surfaced showing a group of individuals assaulting a person inside a vehicle, DPS announced on Saturday evening that it had obtained arrest warrants for five robbery suspects: two adults and three juveniles.
According to court documents, police detectives traced a call to the victim from a cell phone used by one of the juveniles.
The victim also reported to the police that he had recently tracked the location of one of his cellphones to Koblerville, which led investigators to Billy’s residence.
After the hearing on Monday, Judge Camacho maintained the $50,000 cash bail for both Billy and Tipengeni and remanded them to the custody of Corrections. They were ordered to return to court for an arraignment on Dec. 20 at 9 a.m., and for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 23 at 10 a.m.
Jay Billy, 20, and JR Tipengeni, a.k.a., “Awatan,” 19, are escorted by Corrections officers at the local courthouse for a bail hearing on Monday.
