U.S. District Court for the NMI Designated Judge David Wiseman yesterday approved the stipulation of both parties.
Maratita, his court-appointed attorney David Banes and Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Benedetto, who is prosecuting the case, agreed that the defendant be remanded to U.S. Marshals custody yesterday, “without the need of a hearing.”
The stipulation further stated that Maratita, through Banes, admitted to the violations contained in the U.S. Probation Office’s Petition for Action filed by Probation Officer Melinda Brunson on March 5, 2010.
Maratita admitted that he used “ice” on Jan. 30, 2010 and on Feb. 28, 2010.
The court earlier allowed the pretrial release of Maratita after he issued $25,000 in unsecured bond to his third-party custodian, Ramon Camacho, who was later substituted by his common-law wife, Jamie Tudela.
On Sept. 17, 2009, Maratita was arrested by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for possession of a .25 caliber Colt semiautomatic pistol which he sold it to an ATF cooperating source on March 16, 2009.
On Nov. 5, 2009, Maratita signed a plea agreement.
Sentencing was set for Feb. 6, 2010, but was subsequently moved to March 24, 2010.
On Feb. 1, 2010, Brunson said Maratita informed her that he used the $25 given to him by his common-law wife to play
poker, won an additional $25 and used the money to buy “ice.”
Brunson said she got information that Maratita also withdrew $100 from the joint savings account he had with his common-law wife “and used that money to play poker and purchase more “ice.”
On March 2, 2010, Brunson said Maratita returned to the Federal Probation Office to meet her. Upon query, Brunson said Maratita stated that on Feb. 28, 2010 he was on his way to pick up his sister at her work and saw a known drug dealer on the side of the road.
“The defendant pulled over and purchased $20 worth of “ice,” Brunson said.
