Probationer gets 5 years in prison for trying to steal generator

A habitual offender was slapped with a five-year prison term for trying to steal a generator from a house’s storage room in Chalan Piao while he was still on probation.

Vincent Ronald San Nicolas Muna, 30, on Tuesday afternoon pleaded guilty to the offense of burglary and admitted to violating the terms and conditions of his probation in previous four criminal cases.

Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo accepted Muna’s guilty plea and the plea agreement.

Govendo sentenced Muna to two years in prison for burglary and three years in jail for the probation violation or for a total of five years imprisonment.

The defendant was ordered to start serving the prison term at the Department of Corrections on Feb. 23, 2016, at 8am. His release from custody will be on Feb. 9, 2021 at 8am.

Upon completion of his prison term, Muna will be placed on probation for five years. He was required to pay a $100 fine, $100 in court costs, and $500 in probation service fee.

Govendo ordered the defendant to perform 80 hours of community work service, stay away from the victims, and complete drug and alcohol counseling, plus other conditions.

According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, Muna broke into the residence of Jose Tenorio and Yvette Tenorio in Chalan Piao with the purpose of committing theft on Sept. 3, 2015. He violated the terms of his probation in four criminal cases by failing to obey all CNMI laws by committing the offense of burglary.

Jose Tenorio told police that he and his wife had a gathering with friends at their house and that they were using the generator to light up their garage. He placed the generator inside the storage room so it won’t get wet and secured.

While in the garage, they noticed the light in the garage was flicking so the couple’s friend went to check the generator in the storage room.

The friend noticed that the generator was missing. As they followed the extension cord that was pulled out from the storage room, they found the generator located three feet behind Muna’s car trunk.

They found Muna next to the generator. Tenorio and his friend held Muna and called the police.

Assistant attorney general Heather P. Barcinas appeared for the government at the hearing. Assistant public defender Matthew H. Meyer served as counsel for the defendant.

In July 2013, Muna pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in a 2008 case, to theft in a 2012 case, and to two counts of theft in another 2012 case. He also admitted to violating his probation in a 2011 criminal conviction.

Associate Judge David A. Wiseman accepted the plea deal and sentenced Muna to a total of six months imprisonment and placed him on probation for five years.