Govendo granted the oral motion of Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke, who represented Jonathan M. Diaz, 27, after learning that the prosecution would file a charge of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree, instead of first degree.
Govendo also approved Delores Manglona Diaz, the defendant’s mother, as third party custodian for the defendant.
Govendo, however, required the mother to present proof regarding the value of three undeveloped pieces of property on Tinian that they would post as property bond.
Assistant Attorney Brian D. Gallagher, the prosecutor, opposed the designation of the mother as third party custodian.
When called to the witness stand, Mrs. Diaz said she was “confused.”
She said she was “not happy” upon learning that her son impregnated someone.
“I asked questions,” the mother said, adding her son was found to be “sterile” after a check up when he was still in the U.S. Army.
The mother said her son served the Army for eight years, and returned to Tinian last March to teach at Tinian Junior High School.
Govendo noted the “seriousness of the case that causes me concern.”
The defendant was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections after the hearing for his motion for bail modification yesterday afternoon.
