Duenas was put in prison on May 3, 2011 and had already served three months there.
Govendo yesterday accepted Duenas’ plea agreement signed by the defendant, Assistant Attorney General Tiberius Mocanu, and Assistant Public Defender Matt Meyer.
Govendo then ordered Duenas’ release from custody.
Duenas will pay a $100 court assessment fee and perform 100 hours of community work service.
He also agreed to testify in the prosecution of his two co-accused.
The plea agreement took into consideration Duenas’ early acceptance of responsibility; that he is a user and not a dealer; and he was only found with a syringe and not any substantive amount” of “ice.”
Assistant Attorney General Shelli Neal represented the government, while Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke appeared for Duenas during the change of plea hearing yesterday afternoon.
Police said Duenas was arrested when authorities served the search and arrest warrants on Don Sanchez, also known as “JJ,” at his Dandan residence.
William Cabrera Jr. was also in the residence during the raid, police said.
Cabrera is the brother-in-law of Sanchez, police said.
Duenas told police he had contraband in his possession.
Police seized needles from Duenas’ possession that tested positive for “ice.”
A source said some drug users had been injecting “ice” instead of smoking it.
On May 3, Govendo issued the search and arrest orders against the defendants.
The CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force, together with the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Bureau, the CNMI Customs’ K-9 Unit, implemented the anti-illegal drug operation.
