THE federal court yesterday issued an arrest warrant against a landowner who filed an $11.7 million lawsuit against a judge and a lawyer.
U.S. District Court Judge Pro Tempore Edward Manibusan ordered the U.S. Marshal and any authorized federal officers to arrest John S. Pangelinan for criminal contempt.
Pangelinan failed to appear during yesterday’s hearing. He was supposed to tell the court why he should not be found in criminal contempt for disobeying a court order pertaining to a civil case.
Manibusan granted the U.S. government’s no-bail motion.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Smith said the government considers Pangelinan a flight risk.
Last May 24, U.S. District Court Judge Alex R. Munson ordered Pangelinan to appear in court and explain why he should not be found in criminal contempt for disobeying a court order.
Munson said that should the defendant fail to appear at the June 6 hearing, the court would issue a warrant for his arrest.
According to Munson, the court finds that there is probable cause to believe that Pangelinan unlawfully disobeyed a court’s order by interfering with the right of the plaintiffs in a civil action to receive rent and other income from Marianas Seaside Development Corp. through a series of telephone calls and fax transmissions.
The U.S. government sought a court’s order that will initiate a criminal contempt proceeding against Pangelinan.
But last Monday, Pangelinan filed a lawsuit against Munson and attorney Charles Rotbart for allegedly depriving him of his real properties on Saipan.
The lawsuit prompted Munson to recuse himself from presiding over the criminal contempt proceedings as well as in Pangelinan’s civil action.
At yesterday’s hearing, Pangelinan did not show up in court.
His lawyer said the defendant had been advised of the court order by telephone. However, they were unable to serve the papers on him because he has allegedly been evading service.
Pangelinan’s wife informed the U.S. Attorney’s Office that the defendant was on island, his lawyer said.
Pangelinan has been reportedly residing in the State of Washington.
