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Navy officer pays DPS $814, donates $686 to general fund
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Posted on Jul 25 2011
The Superior Court has agreed to dismiss a criminal case filed against an enlisted U.S. Navy officer, who paid $814 in restitution to the Department of Public Safety for the repair of a damaged police car and donated $686 to the CNMI general fund.
Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja granted the government’s motion to dismiss with prejudice the case against Paul Mosio Mitchell. Dismissal with prejudice means the case cannot be re-opened.
Mitchell posted a $1,500 bail in May.
In his order issued last week, Naraja granted Mitchell’s request that $814 of his bail be applied as restitution to DPS and the remaining $686 be given to the Commonwealth’s general fund.
Assistant attorney general Peter B. Prestley, in the government’s motion to dismiss and exonerate bail, said the defendant is enlisted in the U.S. Navy and is currently deployed, although his exact location is unknown at this time.
Prestley said Mitchell is not expected to return to the CNMI.
“After posting bail, however, Mitchell took responsibility for his actions and, along with his superior officers, cooperated with the Office of the Attorney General in giving a full statement and agreeing to pay restitution,” the prosecutor said.
Mitchell, Prestley said, has been in contact with the OAG via email to ensure restitution is paid.
When Mitchell was taken before the court in May, the OAG requested to take the matter off-calendar as the matter is being addressed and dealt with in the military tribunal.
Naraja then decided to postpone the hearing to Aug. 1, 2011.
No details were indicated in court files why Mitchell was arrested and how he caused damage to the police car.
