Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo placed Jeffrey R. Dela Cruz on supervised probation for three years starting on March 25, 2010.
The court also barred Dela Cruz from reemployment in the CNMI government for the next 10 years.
As part of the plea agreement, the charges of one count of attempt, one count of solicitation, and one count of bribery were dismissed by the court.
Dela Cruz will also enroll as a full-time student at Northern Marianas College and take credits toward an associate degree. He must maintain registration until either the expiration of his probation or until a degree is earned, whichever occurs first.
The Office of Adult Probation will determine the probation fee to be paid by Dela Cruz.
He will pay a $25 court assessment fee within 30 days, a fine of $600, and perform 600 hours of community work.
Attorney Eric S. Smith represented Dela Cruz while then-Special Assistant Attorney General Joseph J. Przyuski prosecuted the case.
Dela Cruz was also ordered to pay $200 as restitution to his victim, Zhi Guang Li, who owned Z. Y. Li Corp., doing business as Vegetable Plus in Puerto Rico.
Li said that on Feb. 17, 2009, Saipan Zoning Office personnel inspected his establishment and told him that he had an “illegal banner sign.”
Dela Cruz then demanded $100 from Li.
Otherwise, Dela Cruz said he would issue a citation for noncompliance.
On Feb. 21, 2009 Dela Cruz went again to Li’s establishment and told him the defendant could solve the businessman’s “problem” in exchange for $50.
Shortly after receiving $50 from Li, Dela Cruz returned and asked for an additional $150.
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