By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
SHELDON Ungilbesul Remoket was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, simple assault, and disturbing the peace for hitting his uncle with a 2×2 piece of wood on Dec. 26.
Remoket, 39, appeared for a bail hearing before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho on Monday morning. Judge Camacho set his bail at $15,000 cash.
The defendant was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections after the hearing and was ordered to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 5 at 10 a.m. and an arraignment on Jan. 12 at 9 a.m.
Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds appeared for the government, while attorney Robert Torres was appointed to represent Remoket.
According to the complaint, investigators and responding officers observed the victim bleeding from the back of his head, a cut on his left forearm, blood on his shirt, drops of blood on the ground, and a 2×2 piece of wood with blood on it surrounded by a pool of blood. The victim also told police that Remoket is his nephew.
The victim received four staples to his head and five stitches to his arm, authorities added.
In a statement to police, Remoket said a female household member told him the victim had threatened her when she entered his apartment. Remoket said he confronted his uncle but was told to stay in his apartment and not intervene.
Remoket said his uncle then threatened his 15‑month‑old daughter, saying, “Remove her from my apartment or else I will hit her.” Remoket said he asked his uncle what his problem was and warned him not to threaten his daughter.
According to Remoket, he picked up a 2×2 piece of wood and struck the plywood next to his uncle once. He said his uncle then hit him on the head three times with a saw. As his uncle attempted a fourth strike, Remoket said he grabbed the saw with his left hand and tried to pull it away, causing both to fall as they struggled.
However, CCTV footage reviewed by investigators showed Remoket swinging the 2×2 wood three times and hitting the victim.
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.
