OAG, ex-cop Hocog said to be in talks to resolve drug case

The Office of the Attorney General and former police officer Victor Val Hocog, represented by his lawyer, are currently in talks to resolve Hocog’s drug trafficking case.

At yesterday’s status conference, assistant attorney general Chester Hinds, counsel for the government, and Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig, counsel for Hocog, informed Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto Naraja about their ongoing talks.

Naraja set another status conference for June 19, 2017.

Hocog appeared at the hearing.

Last March 8, the OAG charged Hocog with drug trafficking and illegal possession of a controlled substance. A “cooperating source” allegedly bought $240 worth of “ice” from Hocog during a sting operation in the parking lot of a store in As Lito on Sept. 15, 2016.

Hocog was arrested on Oct. 10, 2016, for the alleged Sept. 15 drug transaction. He was later released after offering to serve as a confidential informant but the court later revoked his release. Hocog was not re-arrested and was instead summoned to appear in court last March 13.

At the March 13 arraignment, Hocog pleaded not guilty of the charges.

At the March 28, 2017 status conference, Hocog did not appear, but his counsel, assistant public defender Cindy Nesbit was in court. Chief Prosecutor Michelle Harris appeared for the government.

A bench warrant worth $500 for Hocog’s failure to appear was held in abeyance until the next hearing. Naraja ordered Hocog to appear at the next hearing on April 3, 2017, at 9:30am.

At the April 3, 2017 status conference, Hocog again did not appear but his counsel, Nesbit, was present in court. Hinds appeared for the government. Again, Naraja held the bench warrant for Hocog in abeyance until the next hearing and ordered Hocog to be at the status conference on April 4.

At the April 4, 2017 status conference, Hocog appeared with Nesbit. Assistant attorney general Matthew Baisley appeared for the government. Naraja then quashed the $500 bench warrant and continued the status conference for yesterday, May 8.

According to court documents, on Nov. 10, 2015, the OAG charged Hocog with criminal contempt of court.

Between Sept. 25, 2014, and Nov. 9, 2015, Hocog allegedly knowingly refused to comply with the Superior Court’s order in connection with his 2014 criminal case.

Hocog was not arrested in this criminal contempt case; he was only summoned to appear in court on Nov. 23, 2015.

At the arraignment on Nov. 23, 2015, Hocog appeared with his counsel. He entered a plea of not guilty.

At the status conference in the criminal contempt case on Dec. 19, 2016, Hocog did not appear.

Naraja then issued bench warrant for Hocog’s arrest. Bail was set at $500.

Saipan Tribune learned that the criminal contempt of court case is pending as Hocog, through counsel, appealed to the CNMI Supreme Court, arguing that his sentence in a previous criminal case does not comply with the sentencing statute and therefore illegal.

In the government’s opposition to the appeal, Baisley said the Supreme Court should affirm because no illegal sentence was imposed, no separation of powers issues exist, and Naraja’s involvement was limited to ensuring the plea agreement was sound.

The prior conviction was on Sept. 25, 2014, when Hocog was sentenced to 15 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a controlled substance. He was given credit for 226 days of time served.

In 2011, Hocog pleaded guilty to assault and battery in a domestic violence case. Naraja sentenced him to one year in prison, all suspended except for nine days. Naraja gave him credit for nine days of time served.