Revocation of man’s release is sought for alleged battery

The U.S. Probation Office wants a probationer’s supervised release revoked after he allegedly beat up his girlfriend, causing multiple injuries.
Tarell Darnell Murphy appeared before the U.S. District Court for the NMI yesterday afternoon after the U.S. Marshal Service served him with a summons.

The U.S. Probation Office asked the court to let Murphy explain why his supervised release should not be revoked. Bruce Berline was appointed as counsel for Murphy.

U.S. Marshals arrested Murphy on Saipan in April 2017 based on an indictment filed in South Carolina for false statement.

The U.S. District of Carolina issued an arrest warrant against Murphy on July 30, 2015, for failure to appear for an initial appearance on a supervised release violation scheduled for July 21, 2015.

Last April, the U.S. District Court for the NMI ordered the transfer of Murphy to the District of South Carolina. Murphy agreed to voluntary removal.

According to U.S. Probation officer Gregorio F. Arriola in the petition for revocation, on Aug. 19, 2017, District of South Carolina Senior Judge Margaret B. Seymour sentenced Murphy to time served for false statement.

Seymour placed Murphy on two years of supervised release with conditions.

Last Oct. 31, the jurisdiction of Murphy’s case was transferred to the District of the NMI after the defendant moved back to Saipan.

Arriola said that among the mandatory conditions of the supervised release is that Murphy shall not commit another crime.

Arriola said that, last Feb. 6, Murphy pleaded guilty to assault and battery (domestic violence) in the Superior Court. Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo sentenced him to 36 days imprisonment, along with other conditions. He was given credit for 36 days of time served.

Arriola noted that the Superior Court permitted Murphy to depart the CNMI on unsupervised probation, provided that he satisfies all the conditions in the judgment commitment order. According to assistant attorney general Jonathan Wilberscheid, Murphy strangled and choked his then-girlfriend on Saipan on Dec. 27, 2017.

When three police officers responded to the incident at 5:58am last Dec. 27, the victim was limping and had a swollen and bruised cheek and has scratch marks on her neck. She was taken to the hospital where she was treated for injuries.

She said Murphy has been physically abusive since they started a relationship in February 2017.