Manglona rejected the defense’s recommendation of 10 months home confinement.
Salas, who will remain on post-trial release pending designation of a federal facility, will be placed on three years’ supervised release after completing his prison term.
He will be placed on a location monitoring program during the first five months of his supervised release.
Citing the determination of the U.S. Probation Office, Manglona ruled Salas cannot pay a fine, but he will pay the mandatory $100 special court assessment fee and perform 100 hours of community work service.
Salas will not have any contact with his victim or the victim’s premises.
In open court, Manglona told Salas to have “some sense of humility” following his sentencing.
Manglona said Salas, as a CNMI government official, was supposed “to protect others.”
Salas placed the “public in harm’s way” when he did not perform his duties, Manglona noted.
Arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Sept. 2010, Salas eventually admitted the charge of extortion under color of official right.
The $200 evidence currently in FBI’s custody will eventually be released to the victim, the prosecution said.
The prosecution told the court that the victim/witness decided not to pursue restitution.
Manglona noted that the victim shelled out a total $1,720 with his interactions with some DPW personnel.
The prosecution highlighted Salas’ cooperation in the investigation, but it was not sufficient for an indictment.
Salas apologized to the CNMI government, the community, to his family and to the court for his “inappropriate action in public office.”
Manglona took into consideration the factors cited by Salas’ court-appointed defense attorney, David Banes, regarding the defendant’s acceptance of responsibility, cooperation and good behavior during his pretrial release.
