Habitual offender who burglarized judge’s house gets 6 years in prison

Habitual offender Cling Philip Kaipat pleaded guilty on Tuesday to burglarizing the house of Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo in Dandan and for violating his probation. He was slapped with a six-year imprisonment sentence.

Kaipat pleaded guilty to burglary and theft as part of a plea deal. He also admitted to violating the terms and conditions of his probation in two previous criminal cases.

Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio sentenced Kaipat to 10 years in prison, all suspended except for five years, without the possibility of parole.

He was also directed to serve the remaining suspended sentence of one year for violating his probation.

Both sentences are to run consecutively. That means Kaipat shall serve a total of six years in prison. He was given credit for time served. He has been in custody since Nov. 5, 2015.

The six-year prison sentence, however, will run concurrently with the sentence in Kaipat’s conviction in his case in federal court. That means he will serve the six years in prison within whatever prison term the federal court imposes on him.

After serving his sentence, Kaipat will be placed on supervised probation for five years. He was required to pay a $100 fine, plus court and probation fees.

Kaipat was required to undergo counseling at the Community Guidance Center.

He is not allowed to have any contact with Govendo and his wife, Domitilia Govendo, and shall stay 100 feet away from their home.

Kaipat was required to write a letter of apology and pay $839 in restitution to the Govendo couple.

He is prohibited from possessing or consuming any alcoholic beverages during his probation.

The $4,640 in restitution that Kaipat was ordered to pay his other victim, Joel Manalansan Enriquez, shall be converted to a civil judgment.

The Office of the Attorney General charged Kaipat with burglary, theft, and criminal mischief in February 2016.

In November 2016, the OAG revoked Kaipat’s probation in two 2015 criminal cases.

Kaipat broke into Govendo’s house in Dandan on Nov. 5, 2015, and stole a watch, a hunting knife, and $500.

Assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas appeared for the government. Assistant public defender Nancy Dominski served as counsel for Kaipat.

Earlier this month, Kaipat pleaded guilty in federal court for possession of a gun that he stole during the burglary at Govendo’s house.

Kaipat, 21, pleaded guilty to count one of the indictment, which charges him with possession of a stolen firearm.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona set the sentencing for Feb. 23, 2018 at 9am.