SUPERIOR Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo has sentenced Kevin Imaikita Esteves to five years’ imprisonment but all suspended except for two years and six months to be served day for day without the possibility of parole or work or weekend release or any other similar program.
In his judgement and commitment order on Tuesday, Judge Govendo said Esteves will be released from the custody of the Department of Corrections on July 2, 2025, at 8 a.m.
Esteves, 34, was ordered to pay a fine and court costs of $200. He will be placed on five years’ probation immediately after serving his sentence. He will also pay a $600 probation fee, and shall have no direct or indirect contact with the minor victim and her mother.
In addition, Esteves was ordered to participate in and complete any counseling or course of treatment as deemed necessary by the Office of Adult Probation or the Community Guidance Center. He was not required to comply with the CNMI Sex Offender Registry Act.
Failing to comply with any of the conditions, except for minor traffic infractions, shall be grounds for revocation of probation and contempt of court charges.
Esteves pled guilty to child abuse on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. At the hearing, he was represented by Assistant Public Defender Emily Thomsen while Assistant Attorney General Frances Demapan appeared for the Commonwealth government.
Early last year, Esteves was charged with sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.
Judge Govendo, in accepting Esteves’ guilty plea, also granted the CNMI government’s motion to dismiss all remaining charges against the defendant.
According to the complaint against Esteves, he inappropriately touched a minor, a household member, on Dec. 31, 2022. After learning about the incident, the minor’s mother immediately reported it to the police.
