The court also granted the Public Defender’s Office’s motion to modify bail condition’s for Pedro Ilo Sablan, 62, who was allowed to be visited by his minor family members at his Kagman residence.
The court earlier allowed Sablan’s release to his wife as his third party custodian after posting a $50,000 property bond. Sablan was also placed under house arrest.
“We respect the court’s decision,” said Assistant Attorney General Peter Prestley in an interview with Variety.
Prestley appeared on behalf of Assistant Attorney General Shelli Neal, who is prosecuting the case, but is currently undergoing off-island training.
“The commonwealth is strongly opposed to this modification as [Sablan] presents a danger to children in the community,” Neal earlier told the court in her motion for reconsideration and opposition for the second motion to modify the defendant’s conditions for pretrial release.
In her motion, Neal stressed to the court the weight of the evidence against Sablan.
Sablan, according to Neal, “confessed to sexually abusing the child multiple times while she was in the custody of the DYS shelter.”
In addition, the victim’s caretakers saw Sablan with the victim and have gathered items he gave to his victim “including [Sablan’s] jacket, letters and a photograph,” Neal said.
“Evidence against [Sablan] is strong and conviction is highly likely,” Neal told the court.
Sablan has denied the charges.
