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Jury renders guilty verdict in sex abuse case
The Office of the Attorney General concluded the trial of Jose I. Santos, also known as Grandpa Ping, on Wednesday, July 8. A jury found Santos guilty of committing two counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree. As a result, Santos faces a maximum possible sentence of 60 years behind bars.
“I am pleased with the verdict,” said Attorney General Edward Manibusan. “We will continue to seek justice for victims of sexual abuse. We seek the community’s stand against sexual violence, most especially for those who are unable to defend themselves.”
Assistant attorneys general Shannon Foley and Emily Cohen prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth government, which began on Monday, July 6. Immediately following closing arguments the jurors deliberated. On Wednesday morning, the jurors reached a guilty verdict.
Foley said: “We were fortunate with the panel of jury in this trial and impressed with the way the CNMI views these cases. …The short amount of time it took the jurors to reach a verdict indicates a decision was apparent.”
“I hope for the sake of the victim and her family that after two full trials, they can put this behind them and move on,” Foley added.
Manibusan said: “I would like to thank assistant attorneys general Shannon Foley and Emily Cohen for their hard work in bringing the defendant to justice. Further, the Department of Public Safety deserves thanks for their thorough investigation and persistence in this case.”
If you are a victim or a person you know has been victimized by sexual assaul, call the Office of the Attorney General at 237-7600, or the Department of Public Safety at 664-9000. (OAG)
