Ex-convict gets 5 years in jail for theft using bank checks

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho yesterday slapped a sentence of five years imprisonment against an ex-convict who committed theft by using bank checks he did not own.

Camacho said this five-year sentence shall start after defendant James Anthony Palacios Webb has served 10 months day for day in his previous conviction.

The judge said after serving three years in the theft case, the 25-year-old Webb will be eligible for parole.

After serving the prison term, Webb will be placed on unsupervised probation for 10 years.

Camacho said he imposes the maximum length of 10 years of probation to ensure that the defendant continues to be monitored for many years so that he does not commit another crime or associate with known convicted felons.

Camacho required Webb to pay a $100 fine, $25 in court costs, and $1,000 in probation fee.

The defendant was ordered to perform 200 hours of community work service. He was ordered to pay $517.43 in restitution to San Roque Market, $539.25 in restitution to Twins Market in Dandan, and $292 in restitution to Paradise Hotel in Garapan.

At the sentencing, Webb’s tearful father and mother informed the court that their son never got in trouble until he got into the wrong crowd and started using methamphetamine or “ice.”

Last April 13, Camacho imposed the maximum 10 months of his suspended sentence against Webb for violating the terms and conditions of his probation.

Camacho ordered Webb to serve the 10 months day for day without the possibility of parole.

Webb was given credit for time served.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the offense of violating the terms and conditions of his probation.

According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, between Dec. 4 and 15, 2015 on Saipan, Webb stole approximately $1,352.68 in hotel services, food items, cigarettes, miscellaneous store items, and U.S. currency, from Paradise Hotel, Twins Market in Dandan, and San Roque Market.

Webb violated the terms and conditions of his probation in his prior conviction by failing to obey all CNMI laws by committing the offense of theft.

Camacho said the $94.21 in restitution to Shell Highway Express in Gualo Rai as ordered in the previous conviction shall be converted to a civil judgment because he is serving the full maximum sentence of 10 months and there are no suspended sentence.

Assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas appeared as counsel for the government. Assistant public defender Tillman Clark served as defense counsel.

Police arrested Webb last December for allegedly checking in at Paradise Hotel using a forged check in the amount of $319.25.

Police said Webb admitted to receiving several blank checks from Summer Holiday Hotel and writing at least seven checks amounting to over $400 at different stores on Saipan.

The Office of the Attorney General originally charged Webb with one count of theft and three counts of forgery.

The OAG subsequently amended the information to charge the defendant with only one count of theft.

Webb was previously convicted for stealing the credit card of the KZNM/KCMI radio station and purchasing gas and other items in the amount of $94.21 at the Shell Highway Express in Gualo Rai. In April 2015, he was slapped with a two-month prison term.