“I would disagree with that,” said Ernest in an interview. “I think we’re all working very hard. We’re working on holidays. We’re working on weekends.
In some cases, we’re spending our own money for investigations.”
Most cases involving marijuana drug possession and trafficking are resolved through plea bargain agreements.
The CNMI Criminal Division, which Ernest oversees, has seven prosecutors, himself included.
He said he plans to hire one more attorney to further strengthen their legal team.
“Our resources are very scarce. But our office did not renew some staffers and we freed up a sizable sum so we should get another attorney,” Ernest explained.
Before Ernest was named chief prosecutor, he was a law clerk for the judiciary before moving to the Legislature as Senate legal counsel.
He also worked as consumer legal counsel for the Office of the Attorney General.
“It’s different from the Legislature in that there is a lot more litigation. It’s challenging and I enjoy it. And I get a sense of pride (in what we’re doing as prosecutors),” said Ernest who is originally from Wisconsin.
One of the major cases that Ernest wants justice for is that of former Kagman Juvenile Detention and Correctional Facility guard Tyron Farley Fitial who is accused of having sex with minors.
Farley already pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor in federal court involving one victim.
The 26-year-old is facing a minimum of 10 years in federal prison for that offense.
He was separately charged in Superior Court with multiple counts of sexual abuse of a minor involving two other victims.
The trial for this case hasn’t begun yet.
