CNMI law enforcers escort McDonnell to Illinois

The extradition of a man who was arrested on Saipan last October for sexually assaulting a child in Illinois pushed through a few days after Christmas Day, with two CNMI law enforcers accompanying him to Illinois.

Sean McDonnell’s extradition was executed on the night of Dec. 29, 2017, under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, which had custody of McDonnell.

Two CNMI law enforcers were tasked to transfer McDonnell to Illinois.

The extradition was unique because, instead of having McDonnell fetched on Saipan by officers from the corrections facility in Illinois where he will be detained, two CNMI law enforcers were paid to take McDonnell to Illinois.

This arrangement was done as the corrections facility in Illinois was having trouble setting up the extradition procedure in the CNMI.

At the status conference presided over by Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho last Dec. 15, 2017, chief prosecutor Michelle Harris and assistant attorney general Jonathan Wilberscheid informed the court that a company called Inmate Services will bring McDonell back to Illinois.

At that same hearing, Wilbesheid said that executing an extradition procedure in the CNMI is complicated because of the unavailability of flights but was quick to assure the court that the extradition process will be executed appropriately.

McDonnell, 39, who was present with assistant public defender Nancy Dominski, was told he had 45 days from Dec. 15, 2017, to be brought back to Illinois.

The original date of the extradition was set last Dec. 18, 2017, but it was postponed. Saipan Tribune was not able to get statements from Harris and Dominski on the reason for the postponement.

Although the Dec. 18 scheduled extradition did not push through, McDonnell was given 45 days to be extradited from the CNMI to Illinois starting Dec. 15, 2017.

A status conference was set on Jan. 29, 2018, at 9am by Camacho, but since the extradition procedure has been executed, this shall be vacated.

McDonnell was arrested through a joint effort between the U.S. Marshals and the Department of Public Safety, led by police sergeant George F. David, on Saipan last October.

McDonnell is wanted in the county of Rock Island in Illinois, on multiple charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.