In yesterday’s hearing, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson also subjected the defendant, Robin Norita Sablan to several conditions set by the court.
This includes obeying all federal and commonwealth laws, submitting to drug testing within 15 days after his release from jail and periodic drug tests after.
Sablan must submit to a mental evaluation and any recommended treatment, participate in a program approved by the U.S. Probation Office for substance abuse, stay away from poker rooms or engage in gambling activities, refrain from incurring new credit charges or opening additional lines of credit without the approval of the probation officer.
He will render 200 hours of community service.
Sablan, moreover, will pay the 12 victims $7,040 immediately after the sentencing, and pay an assessment fee of $100.
Sablan appeared in court with his counsel Joey San Nicolas. The federal government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric O”Malley and Kirk Schuler.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged Sablan with one count of extortion under color of official act.
Based on court documents, Sablan was employed as an assistant probation officer by the Commonwealth Adult Probation from Sept. 18, 2004, to March 20, 2006.
The documents stated that Sablan demanded and received money from defendants under his supervision. In exchange, he promised them favorable official action with respect to their terms of probation.
In May this year, Sablan entered a guilty plea and agreed to make restitution to each and every person from whom he extorted money.
Sablan was arrested in Nov. 2006.
He resigned as probation officer with the Office of Adult Probation when he was placed under investigation by the Office of Public Auditor and the Attorney General’s Investigation Unit in the early part of 2006.
Records showed that Sablan received money from 12 individuals with amounts ranging from $50 to $1,500.
After yesterday’s hearing, Sablan was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service.
