SUPERIOR Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho has issued a bench warrant for Nanami Deleon Guerrero Mafnas for failing to appear at a status conference on Wednesday.
Judge Camacho set the bail at $500.
At the hearing, the government was represented by Assistant Attorney General Frances T. Demapan while Assistant Public Defender Emily Thomsen appeared for Mafnas.
The defendant was accused of assaulting a government attorney in March 2023, and was charged with one count of assault and battery, and one count of disturbing the peace.
The case was previously assigned to Judge Wesley Bogdan, and a bench trial was set for Jan. 16, 2024. But because he is retiring in December, Judge Bogdan requested Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja to reassign the case.
The presiding judge then assigned the case to Judge Camacho.
According to the prosecution, “On or about March 18, 2023, on Saipan…, the defendant…did unlawfully strike, beat, wound, or otherwise cause bodily harm to Keisha Blaise, to wit: Defendant grabbed the victim by her braided hair, pulled her out of the vehicle, and hit her face and body, in violation of 6 CMC § 1202(a), and made punishable by 6 CMC §§ 1202(b) and 4101(c) [with a maximum punishment of 1 year imprisonment, $1,000 fine, or both].”
Furthermore, on or about March 18, 2023, on Saipan, the defendant “did unlawfully and willfully commit an act which unreasonably annoyed or disturbed another person so that the other person is deprived of her right to peace and quiet, or which provokes a breach of the peace, to wit: Defendant physically assaulted the victim, causing her to feel scared to leave home, in violation of 6 CMC § 3101(a) and made punishable by 6 CMC §§ 3101(b) and 4101(d) [with a maximum punishment of six months imprisonment, $500 fine, or both].”
Prior to the incident, Blake, a civil division lawyer of the Office of the Attorney General, was having a drink with her boyfriend, who is also a civil division attorney, and Mafnas at a Kagman residence.
Later, according to the complaint, Mafnas opened the door of Blake’s vehicle where the government attorney was resting and assaulted her.
