Nick Masga Reyes
CHIEF Parole Officer Nick Masga Reyes entered a not guilty plea and sought a jury trial during his arraignment on Monday.
Reyes, with his counsel, Joaquin DLG Torres, appeared before Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja. Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds represented the Commonwealth government.
Judge Naraja scheduled a status conference for March 4, 2024, at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 202-A.
He also ordered both parties to comply with procedural deadlines, including discovery. He said the parties “shall complete the exchange of discovery materials no later than 45 days from the date of the order.”
At the case management conference, which the presiding judge also scheduled for March 4, he said the parties should be prepared to advise the court whether the matter will be disposed of by a change of plea, trial, or other disposition. They should be also prepared to select a trial date for the case.
Reyes and co-defendant Chuilian Fu, owner of F&S Corporation, were charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, and one count of theft by deception.
According to the information filed by Assistant Attorney General James Robert Kingman in Superior Court, on or about Oct. 4, 2022, on Saipan, “Nick Masga Reyes agreed with…Chuilian Fu, that one or both would engage in or solicit theft of property by deception, to wit, the construction of a patio at the Parole Office purported to be constructed by a tailoring company owned by Chuilian Fu’s F&S Corporation, in the amount of $9,997.80, but actually constructed by uncompensated labor performed by parolees under the direction of Nick Masga Reyes, made punishable by 6 CMC §1603.”
