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Two men to plead guilty to seven theft cases
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Posted on Aug 14 2019
Two men who allegedly burglarized seven business establishments on island will plead guilty to all the criminal charges against them.
Steven Hasugulgam, 23, and his co-defendant, Irwin Duane Teregeyo, 19, are charged with multiple counts of burglary and theft for allegedly burglarizing seven business establishments back in 2018, including the I Love Saipan pop-up shop, True Value Hardware Store, Surf Club restaurant, Bank of Saipan, the Shell gas station in Susupe, Pena House Boutique, and Blue-Sky Supermarket.
During a status conference yesterday, Hasugulgam’s lawyer, Oliver Manglona, and Teregeyo’s lawyer, Kimberly King-Hinds, informed the court that both men are ready for a global change of plea agreement, “global” meaning they would change their plea for all the cases against them.
Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo ordered both men to return for their change of plea hearing on Oct. 1 at 1:30pm.
Hasugulgam was charged with burglarizing all seven establishments while Teregeyo was charged with participating in five of the seven burglaries.
According to court information, Hasugulgam and Teregeyo burglarized the I Love Saipan pop-up shop, Blue Sky Supermarket, True Value Hardware store, Pena House Boutique, and Surf Club together.
Hasugulgam, however, allegedly burglarized the Shell gas station in Susupe and the Bank of Saipan in Chalan Kanoa on his own.
According to Saipan Tribune archives, both Hasugulgam and Teregeyo entered pleas of not guilty to all counts before Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert Naraja back in March.
Hasugulgam and Teregeyo were arrested when police received a call about a burglary and theft incident at True Value Hardware on Beach Road, Garapan and at I Love Saipan pop-up store on Middle Road in Chalan Laulau on Dec. 27, 2018. The other burglaries were uncovered later while the two were incarcerated.
Police concluded that True Value Hardware and I Love Saipan were robbed by the same suspects after both surveillance footage from the establishments showed two suspects, one with a tattoed left forearm, who was later identified as Hasugulgam.
Hasugulgam later told police that burglarizing both stores were Teregeyo’s idea.
