Ex-businessman gets 30-day jail term for gun shooting, harassment cases

A former businessman has entered a guilty plea in two criminal cases for firing an unregistered gun in the presence of his girlfriend and subsequently harassing two witnesses in the shooting incident.

Juan B. Roberto pleaded guilty on Wednesday to unlawful possession of a firearm, disturbing the peace, and criminal use of a firearm. In the second case, he pleaded guilty to criminal contempt.

Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo accepted the 52-year-old Roberto’s guilty plea and the plea agreement.

In a written order issued yesterday, Govendo sentenced the defendant to a total of three years, all suspended, except for 30 days.

The defendant was given credit for 32 days he already served in prison. It means that he will no longer serve more jail time.

Govendo placed Roberto on supervised probation for three years and required him to write a letter of apology to the victims and submit to a psychological evaluation.

Govendo ordered the defendant to submit to an alcohol and drug assessment treatment, if recommended, and perform 180 hours of community work service.

The judge required Roberto to surrender and forfeit all his firearms, ammunition and other weapons to the Department of Public Safety immediately.

Govendo also ordered the defendant to surrender all evidence seized at the time of his arrest, including multiple marijuana plants.

Roberto was directed to pay a total of $400 in court costs and probation fees.

The Office of the Attorney General charged Roberto with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, illegal possession of controlled substance, assault with a dangerous weapon, criminal use of a firearm, and three counts of disturbing the peace.

In the second case, the OAG charged Roberto with two counts of disturbing the peace, and one count of criminal contempt.

For entering a guilty plea, the OAG recommended the dismissal of the remaining charges. The court granted the motion.

According to the plea agreement, on Jan. 22, 2012 on Saipan, Roberto unlawfully discharged a firearm, while engaged in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend.

The firearm, a .22 caliber rifle, was not property registered to Roberto. As a result, he disturbed the peace of the girlfriend and two other persons.

On Jan. 26, 2012 on Saipan, the defendant violated the terms and conditions of the court’s bail order issued on Jan. 24, 2012 by driving his truck recklessly, shouting profanities, and disturbing the peace of two witnesses in the shooting case.