Henry S. Ada has signed a plea agreement while his co-defendant Jimmy K. Manalo also admitted the charges of possession and conspiracy to possess a green sea turtle.
Manalo will be sentenced on Nov. 15, 2010.
Their two other co-defendants, Derek P. San Nicolas, 29, and Neil Taisacan, 35, have denied the charges.
Except for Ada, all were out on bail.
Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja imposed six months imprisonment for Ada, all suspended except for the first 105 days.
Naraja credited the eight days already served by Ada at the Department of Corrections.
Naraja included in Ada’s 105-day jail sentence the 15 days suspended for his previous murder case in 2006.
After his release from prison on Jan. 26, 2011, Ada will be placed on three years probation that will run consecutive to his probation for his earlier case.
As part of the plea agreement, the government will not seek the revocation of Ada’s probation in his previous murder case.
Naraja said the government, however, retains its right to seek revocation of parole or probation and the imposition of any suspended sentence in any case should Ada commit another crime or in any way violate the terms of his release in this or any other case.
Naraja required Ada to pay a $25 court assessment fee within 30 days upon release from prison, a $300 probation fee payable within one year after release, and a $100 fine.
In addition to 200 hours of community work service, the $100 fine will be converted into community work service.
Ada must obey all federal and CNMI laws.
He will provide substantial cooperation to the government and will testify truthfully at the trial of any co-defendant in his case, or in any case involving other defendants in which Ada has relevant knowledge, Naraja said.
On Sept. 5, 2010, the Attorney General’s Office said Ada, Manalo, San Nicolas and Taisacan conspired with each other and possessed a green sea turtle after it was unlawfully removed from Saipan waters.
Division of Fish and Wildlife conservation officer Ray Cabrera, who conducted audio and video recorded surveillance operations, said the defendants were illegally harvesting green sea turtle, also known as “Haggan” or “Ninja,” and selling turtle meat to friends.
The group, Cabrera said, would wait for the cover of night to head off from Laulau Beach to elude law enforcers.
