The three-page bill, which should receive a number today, states its goal concisely in the executive summary:
“To strengthen provisions regarding crimes that occur within 1,000 feet of tourist sites and recreational areas by establishing higher minimum mandatory sentences.”
The binding sentencing guidelines state “increased deterrence” as its primary objective.
“Existing statutes regarding theft and robbery are not serving to deter violent crimes at tourist and recreation sites. Presently, there are no minimum mandatory penalties for crimes involving tourists or locals,” the bill stated.
Villagomez, Covenant-Saipan, stipulated a mandatory minimum jail sentence to include either half of the maximum term or five years, whichever is more, with no possibility of parole.
“The Legislature must act now to help solve this escalating crush of crime, if we don’t — then we should purchase a tombstone for Saipan tourism,” he said.
The drive for harsher sentences is in direct response to the escalation in frequency, sites and the violence level of crimes against tourists during the last month.
Highly publicized cases include the brutal mugging and carjacking of a female Russian tourist at Suicide Cliff, two brazen acts of personal property theft off golf carts that victimized an elderly Japanese couple and a mother-daughter duo and the Ladder Beach car burglary that left an unfortunate Norwegian tourist stranded without a passport to leave the island.
As chair of the crucial legislature tourism committee, Villagomez expressed his frustration with both the Department of Public Safety and judiciary and their culpability in the damage inflicted on the island’s economic engine of tourism.
“DPS and the judiciary had plenty of chances to step up and carry out their enforcement and sentencing responsibilities, said Villagomez. “The fact is, they’re failing — the Legislature must take action now and decisively.”
Asked if he thought the public would view his sentencing bill as politically motivated or opportunistic, the representative responded quickly.
“My motivations are straight-forward and transparent; we all deserve a safe, beautiful island and I am fighting hard for the safety and pocketbooks of the voters because without tourist dollars, we won’t have security or paydays.”
Villagomez’s mandatory sentencing measure joins H.B. 17-198, another punishment bill that is currently under legislative consideration, authored by Rep. Ramon Basa, Covenant-Saipan.
The two bills however, have one glaring distinction with regard to local residents.
Basa’s proposed bill applies only to crimes against tourists, not islanders, an exclusion Villagomez does not think local residents will tolerate.
“Crimes against tourists are getting a lot of attention right now, but our neighbors are also victims,” explained Villagomez.
That opinion is a welcome ray of hope for residents like Mel Ames, a burglary victim who woke up several weeks ago to discover the metal security bars jimmied off a window and his home robbed of a laptop.
The police officer who responded to Ames’ 9-1-1 burglary call told him, “There are so many burglaries, we can’t keep track.”
A disgusted Ames stated, “What am I supposed to think after being told in a round-about-way that my DPS blue case-number card isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on?”
He is part of a rapidly growing number of angry and frustrated local crime victims who have no confidence in the criminal justice system.
At Saturday’s Farmer’s market on Beach Road, Variety questioned vendors regarding community crime and punishment and across the board, the opinions seethed with contempt and accusations.
“It burns me up!” thundered Tony Torres as he jabbed his finger at the Courthouse that sits across the street from his food stall.
“I don’t have any trust in those fools; they free everybody with time served, even murderers, and the politicians sit on their hands,” Torres continued, as everyone around him nodded avidly in agreement.
The growing community anger and insistence for action is echoing like a thunderclap on Capital Hill.
“I hear the voters loud and clear; they’re demanding decisive now,” stated Villagomez.
Considering the voters sent the 29 lawmakers to Capital Hill in order to solve the island’s pressing problems, Variety queried the legislator as to why he was only one of two lawmakers working that afternoon during our unannounced visit.
Villagomez smiled and replied softly, “I try to be here in the office so my voters can find me; I can’t speak for anyone else.”
As he walked to the empty parking lot with Variety at 5 p.m. he did offer voters a piece of advice however, “dial your phone today, call your lawmaker, the governor, lieutenant governor, or write an e-mail and demand action on my mandatory sentencing bill — for phone numbers and e-mail addresses go to www.cnmileg.gov.mp/.”
Upon hearing Villagomez’s call to action, burglary victim Ames responded with a laugh.
“How funny, the politicians are only reacting now because of the negative publicity swirling around the tragic Russian tourist case reported in Variety,” he replied angrily.
Nevertheless, after a long pause, Ames was more reflective.
“Hey, I guess it’s something positive, when just a few days ago there was nothing to hope for.”
