$25K bail lowered for man arrested for ‘ice’ possession

Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio yesterday granted the Office of the Public Defender’s motion to modify the $25,000 cash bail imposed on Nick Valeriano Reyes Jr., a 30-year-old man facing a charge of illegal possession of methamphetamine or “ice.”

Kim-Tenorio allowed the release of Reyes to his father, Nicolas, who was found suitable to serve as third-party custodian, upon posting $10,000 cash—40 percent of the $25,000 cash bail.

Status conference will be on Sept. 8, 2015, at 1:30pm.

Assistant public defender Tillman Clark served as counsel for Reyes. Chief Prosecutor Leonardo Rapadas appeared for the government.

During his arraignment on Monday, Reyes pleaded not guilty.

A complaint of a stolen vehicle led to the car’s recovery and the arrest of Reyes and two others for alleged possession and smoking “ice.”

Reyes was arrested in Dandan last July 7 for illegal possession of a controlled substance.

Reyes and the car owner’s daughter and her male friend were initially arrested last June 24 for allegedly smoking “ice.” They were subsequently released, but Reyes was arrested again for illegal possession of a controlled substance.

Saipan Tribune opted to withhold the names of the two others until charges are filed against them.

Police detective Rudolfo Saures Hermosilla Jr. stated in his report that police officers responded to a residence in San Antonio last June 23 after a man complained that his 2013 Toyota Yaris had been stolen.

At 12:17am the following day, a patrol officer found the vehicle at the San Jose Mart in San Jose and arrested Reyes, who was the driver.

The officer also arrested the car’s two passengers—the daughter of the vehicle’s owner and a man.

According to the officer, all occupants of the car admitted to smoking “ice” prior to going to San Jose Mart.

Hermosilla said that, last June 26, he met with the car owner and released the car to him.

Before releasing the car, Hermosilla saw a black pouch on the passenger seat.

Hermosilla then conducted further investigation and learned from the two occupants of the car that the pouch belongs to Reyes and that they believe that there is “ice” and drug paraphernalia inside it.

Hermosilla said a review of a video footage from the motel where the car owner’s daughter brought Reyes and the male friend showed that Reyes was holding the pouch.

Hermossila obtained a search warrant for the pouch, where he allegedly found 0.03 gross grams of crystalline residue in Ziploc baggies, drug paraphernalia, and some items.

Hermosilla said he tested the residue and it came out presumptive positive for “ice.”