Previous Story
Defendant seeks 8-hour release to attend dad’s funeral
Daniel A. Castro, who is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine or “ice,” asked the federal court yesterday to allow him to be released for eight hours today, Friday, so he could attend his father’s funeral.
The U.S. government opposed the request. Assistant U.S. attorney Ross K. Naughton said the relief that Castro seeks “is, unfortunately, not possible under the law.”
When Saipan Tribune left federal court yesterday afternoon, there was no decision yet on the request.
Attorney Timothy H. Bellas, counsel for Castro, filed an expedited motion for temporary release, requesting the court for his client to be released for eight hours today, Friday, at 9am, and for Castro to self-surrender at 3pm that same day.
Bellas said the defendant’s father passed away last Friday, Dec. 5, and the funeral will be today.
Bellas said the U.S. Marshal opined that the most practical way to allow Castro to participate in the funeral was temporary release.
He said that being escorted by the U.S. Marshal Service would involve much more complicated arrangements and would not allow Castro to attend the funeral but only to view the body at an undisclosed location.
Bellas said the motion merely requests a few hours of temporary release for a very culturally significant and humanitarian purpose.
Last April, Castro signed a plea agreement with the U.S. government and pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine.
According to the factual basis of the plea deal, on May 29, 2013 on Saipan, Castro sold .60 grams of “ice” for $400 to a confidential source at the parking lot of the Royal Poker arcade in San Antonio.
