By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
DEPARTMENT of Public Works Secretary Ray Yumul pleaded guilty Tuesday to operating an unmarked government vehicle in violation of 1 CMC 7406(f) during a change of plea hearing before Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo.
After the hearing, Yumul said he was relieved to resolve the case.
“I’m just glad it’s behind me now so I can move forward and focus on the work at hand,” he said. “From the beginning, I maintained that I was not under the influence. I had to go through this ordeal, but I’m just glad that it’s behind me now.”
He said the prosecutor reviewed the video footage and all relevant information and agreed that he was not driving under the influence.
Yumul said he was satisfied with the resolution and with the representation of his attorney, Joey San Nicolas, who appeared virtually.
“We don’t want to waste the court’s time drawing out court processes that take time and expenses, even though I would have prevailed,” he said. “I think it’s in everyone’s best interest to put this behind us and move forward.”
Under the plea agreement, Yumul pleaded guilty to the unmarked‑vehicle charge, and the remaining charges were dismissed. He also waived his right to appeal.
Assistant Attorney General David Karch prosecuted the case.
According to the plea agreement, the initial traffic stop was based solely on a license violation. Officers did not observe slurred speech, and surveillance video of Yumul performing field sobriety tests indicated he was not under the influence of alcohol. The agreement stated there was insufficient evidence to prove DUI or reckless driving.
Yumul was cited last July for driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, refusal to submit to a sobriety test, misuse of a government vehicle, no markings on a government vehicle, and license plate violations.
Judge Govendo accepted the guilty plea and ordered Yumul to pay a $1,000 fine. He also sentenced Yumul to three days in jail, all suspended, with credit for 24 hours served.
Yumul will be placed on six months of unsupervised probation and must pay $25 in court fees.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
