THE bench trial of John M. Deleon Guerrero, who is accused of tampering with a Commonwealth Utilities Corporation water meter, started on Wednesday with Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho presiding.
Deleon Guererro was charged with theft of utility services. He is represented by Assistant Public Defender Molly Dennert. Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig joined her at the defense table while Assistant Attorney General Frances Demapan appeared for the government.
To prosecution’s witnesses included Police Officer Elijah Villar, CUC meter reader Daniel James L. Cruz, Department of Public Safety crime scene technician Sgt. Daniel Kintol, DPS evidence custodian Sgt. Therese Manglona, CUC safety technician Delfin Camacho and CUC meter reader Maximo Attao Jr.
Delfin Camacho testified that he was the one who responded on Dec. 13, 2023, took photos, and wrote the incident report regarding a water meter tampering case in Chinatown.
He said, “I saw a ‘straight pipe’ with a spider valve, tampered meter — basically the residence is receiving unmetered water.”
He said he also interviewed the defendant, who told him “that after the water meter broke, he was the one who replaced it for restroom use and for the water tank.”
The CUC employee said on Jan. 13, 2024 he was back at the same residence and saw another “straight pipe with a ball valve.”
“Crude connection — someone installed it for temporary use,” Delfin Camacho added.
“We secured the cover for the water meter box, and obtained information for the account,” he said. He also reported the incident to DPS.
Attao, in his testimony, said, “Only CUC has a spider valve and a special key to open the main water line.”
He said there are other CUC tampering cases involving spider valves.
“You cannot buy a spider valve at any hardware store,” he added.
According to the information filed by the prosecution, Deleon Guerrero “tampered with CUC’s water meter…to obtain utility services without payment, said value of the service is less than $250 in violation of 6 CMC 1609 (b)(1)(2)(3), or (4), and made punishable by 6 CMC 1609 (d) (4) [which carries a maximum sentence of 1 year imprisonment, $1,000 fine or both].”
