IN the rape case against William Abraczinskas, the Office of the Attorney General, through Assistant Attorney General Frances T. Demapan, intends to call as witnesses Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo, the alleged victim, the judiciary’s human resource officer, other employees, and Department of Public Safety detectives.
Judge Pro Tempore Elyze M. Iriarte has scheduled the jury trial to begin on Monday, Sept. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Demapan filed the prosecution’s witness list on Aug. 12.
“The Commonwealth also expressly reserves the right to amend this witness list to add any and all persons not presently known who possesses relevant knowledge and whose identity and knowledge becomes known before and during the trial, pursuant to Com.R.Crim.P.12.1(c),” she added.
Abraczinskas, a former law clerk of Judge Kenneth L. Govendo, was accused by another court employee of rape.
Abraczinskas was charged with sexual assault in the first degree, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace. He has denied the allegations and pled not guilty.
According to the complaint against Abraczinskas, on May 26, 2023, police received a walk-in complaint from a judicial employee who alleged that her co-worker, Abraczinskas, sexually assaulted her on April 8, 2023, at Beach Garden Apartments.
She also told investigators that she had learned that Abraczinskas filed a sexual harassment complaint against her with the judiciary’s human resources office.
After meeting with HR and opening up to her supervisor about the alleged sexual assault, she said she found the courage to come to the Department of Public Safety and tell her side of the incident.
According to Variety news files, Abraczinskas was detained and then released on a $100,000 unsecured bond, but placed under house arrest.
Earlier, Abraczinskas, through Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig, argued that all Superior Court judges should recuse themselves because the case involves two court employees.
The CNMI Supreme Court granted the request.
Chief Justice Alexandro Castro then appointed Guam Judge Elyze M. Iriarte to preside over the case.
