By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
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SUPERIOR Court Judge Joseph N. Camacho found probable cause to charge Jayville (not Javille, as earlier reported) Manglona with assault and vandalism charges for an incident that occurred on Aug. 18, 2025, at Sunshine Variety Shop in Sinapalo, Rota.
After hearing testimony from Detective Fidel Manglona, Judge Camacho found probable cause to charge Manglona, 35, with assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of assault, disturbing the peace, and vandalism.
Manglona, at the Oct. 20 hearing, was represented by Assistant Public Defender Emily Thomsen, while Assistant Attorney General Frances Demapan appeared for the government.
The defendant was remanded to the custody of the Corrections Department after the hearing.
According to the complaint against Manglona, investigators reviewed security camera footage showing him damaging his vehicle with a cement block, pickaxe, and machete. The footage also showed Manglona pouring gasoline into his truck bed and entering the store while armed with a metal tailgate cap, chasing two individuals before being subdued by witnesses.
Additionally, the investigation revealed that Manglona caused damage to a Bank of Saipan ATM located outside Sunshine Variety Shop, including breaking the screen and creating holes in the drywall near the ATM.
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.