Fisherman gets 21-day prison term for using gillnet

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho yesterday imposed a 21-day prison term on Angelo Ignacio C. Villagomez, who pleaded guilty to the offense of illegal use of a gillnet for fishing on Saipan.

“Illegally killing the CNMI’s limited and precious fish and wildlife is a crime both to the present as well as the future children of the CNMI,” Camacho said.

The judge said Villagomez used a type of gillnet that kills indiscriminately all types of fish similar to using poison or explosives.

Camacho said gillnets are highly regulated and require a special permit for a limited purpose and time, balancing the needs of the whole community for such events as village fiesta and other cultural events.

“When defendant Villagomez illegally used a gillnet for his own individual needs, he puts himself above the larger CNMI community,” he said.

Villagomez pleaded guilty yesterday to the offense of illegal use of a fishing gillnet. He, through counsel assistant public defender Michael Sato, waived the need for a pre-sentence investigation report.

According to the factual basis of the guilty plea, on Dec. 9 to 12, 2014, Villagomez used an illegal gillnet to take fish from the waters of the CNMI.

Camacho accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Villagomez to the full maximum of 30 days, the first 21 days shall be served without parole, probation, or weekend release.

Villagomez was given credit for one day of time served.

Camacho said the remaining sentence is suspended and may be imposed in whole or in part for any violation of law or probation rules.

Camacho required the defendant to perform community work service by going to all public elementary schools (and any other private schools that make a request) and make a presentation to the students about the destructive use of gill nets.

“It is the hope of this court that from defendant’s illegal actions some good can come out of it when the students learn to appreciate and respect the CNMI’s limited and precious fish and wildlife,” he said.

Camacho ordered the defendant to pay a $500 fine, $25 court costs, and $100 probation fee.

After completing the prison term, Villagomez will be placed on one-year probation and required to undergo 100 hours of community work service.

Villagomez has a prior criminal conviction when he pleaded guilty to a 1996 case for illegal possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.

Villagomez was arrested by Division of Fish and Wildlife Investigation Unit officers last Dec. 15 for fishing using gillnet at Lau Lau Beach dive spot.

DFW officer Erwin Flores said DFW received a call from a concerned citizen, reporting that Villagomez had been fishing at Lau Lau Beach with a gillnet, selling the fish, and using the proceeds to buy methamphetamine or “ice.”