SUPERIOR Court Associate Judge Wesley Bogdan on Thursday sentenced Rodney Olopai Laniyo to serve 15 years in prison, but all suspended except for 12 years to be served day for day without the possibility of parole, early release, work or weekend release, holiday furlough, or any other similar program.
The court also gave Laniyo, 42, credit for the 157 days he had already served.
Following his release from prison, Laniyo will be placed on supervised probation for 10 years.
He shall not contact the victim directly or indirectly. In addition, he shall register as a sex offender and comply with the CNMI Sex Offender Registry rules.
On Jan. 12, 2023, Laniyo, represented by Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig, pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree.
Assistant Attorney General Frances T. Demapan appeared for the government.
In Aug. 2022, Judge Bogdan imposed a $100,000 cash bail on Laniyo who was charged with sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, sexual abuse of a minor in the 2nd degree, sexual abuse of a minor in the 3rd degree, and incest.
The complaint against Laniyo detailed years of abuse from the time the victim was 5 years old to when she was a teenager.
