Man gets 15 years in prison for sex abuse of minor

The Superior Court imposed last Wednesday a 15-year prison term on a habitual offender who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl and then later attempting to jump off a three-story building in Chalan Kanoa.

Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho imposed the maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment on 37-year-old Jordan Robert Tudela, for sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. No portion of the sentence is suspended so Tudela is not eligible for probation. Camacho said Tudela is only eligible for parole after he has already served a third—five years—of his 15-year sentence. If granted parole, Tudela is not allowed to drink any alcoholic beverages.

Tudela was given credit for time served and was required to register as a sex offender.

Camacho said the sentence is appropriate because Tudela has already been convicted of six other prior crimes, escalating from misdemeanors to a serious felony and that Tudela was not able to complete all of his probation conditions in three out of six cases. In all six cases, Tudela was supervised by the Office of Adult Probation. Clearly, the judge said, the Office of Adult Probation is not a suitable mechanism to supervise him. Camacho said he looks to the Board of Parole to provide the close and intense supervision necessary for Tudela’s compliance and rehabilitation as well as for the victim and community safety.

Camacho said he endeavored to fashion a sentence so that the victim would be an adult by the time Tudela is released and, if granted parole, he will be required to be employed to support his children.

Assistant attorney general Samantha Vickery recommended a sentence of 15 years imprisonment without parole and restitution for medical bills and counseling, if any. Assistant public defender Jean Pierre Nogues recommended a sentence of 15 years with five years to serve and 10 years suspended with parole eligibility.

Tudela indicated that he needs help with his alcohol addiction and assured that he will strive to become a better person when he is released.

Many witnesses, including his brother, said that Tudela is “good” and “obedient” when sober but is a troublemaker when drunk.

The defendant also allegedly use methamphetamine or “ice.”

Tudela claimed to have worked as a tour guide, front desk clerk, and receiving clerk at hotels in Palau and on Saipan; a security screener in Palau; a waiter in Guam; and member of a tourist dinner entertainment dance troupe in Palau and Saipan.

Under the plea deal, assistant attorney general Vickery and assistant public defender Nogues agree that Tudela will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not more than 15 years, to be decided by the judge at the sentencing hearing.

According to the plea deal, Tudela sexually abused the girl on Dec. 1, 2018. According to court documents, Tudela’s girlfriend told police that she caught the defendant sexually molesting the girl in Chalan
Kanoa.

Tudela allegedly begged to his girlfriend not to report the matter to authorities. The girlfriend reported the incident nonetheless, prompting Tudela to climb atop a three-story building in Chalan Kanoa and threaten to jump off.

For over three hours, police officers and other first responders urged Tudela to get off the edge of the building. He was later arrested at the site.