Man gets 6-month jail term for stealing money, checks

A man who stole a handbag that contained money and checks belonging to a restaurant manager has entered a guilty plea and was ordered to spend six months in prison.

Anthony D. Eugenio pleaded guilty last week to the charges of theft, and theft by deception.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho accepted Eugenio’s guilty plea and sentenced him to five years in prison, all suspended except six months.

Camacho ordered the defendant to serve the first six months day for day, without the possibility of parole, early release, work or weekend release, or other similar programs.

The 32-year-old Eugenio was given credit for two days that he already served in jail.

After completing the jail term, the defendant will be placed on six months of probation.

“All or some of the remaining suspended sentence shall be imposed for any violation of probation conditions, including the failure to pay the restitution of $3,000 within two weeks from this order,” Camacho said.

Camacho accepted the plea agreement as defendant has no prior criminal conviction or arrest, and that he offered a full payment of restitution to victims within two weeks from date of his guilty plea.

Eugenio was also required to pay a $200 fine, $100 court assessment fee, and $200 probation fee. He has also to perform 100 hours of community work service.

Among other conditions is that Eugenio shall stay away from Martha’s Retail Store, Big Garden Restaurant, and from the victim, Tae Ja Choi.

Assistant attorney general Margo Brown prosecuted the case. Assistant public defender Mathew Meyer served as counsel for the defendant.

Police said Choi, the manager of Big Garden Restaurant, met with police on July 14, 2011 and reported that her handbag was stolen from her car at the Garapan Fishing Base on June 12, 2011.

The bag contained $2,250 cash, checks, and other items.

The victim was able to track down her missing checks after a man, who was later identified as Eugenio, cashed one check in the amount of $750 at Martha’s Store.

Eugenio apparently told the store owner that he works part-time at Big Garden Restaurant.

Since Eugenio is a regular customer at Martha’s Store, the store owner allowed the cashier to accept the check.

A week later, the store owner learned from a bank that the check was placed under stop payment.