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US govt intends to call at trial minor who allegedly had sex with Roberto
The U.S. government wants to offer during the trial of former acting CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife director Raymond Borja Roberto evidence of his uncharged sexual activity with minors.
In the U.S. government’s notice, assistant U.S. attorney Rami S. Badawy informed the U.S. District Court for the NMI that the prosecution will call a minor as a witness.
Badawy said the girl is expected to testify that Roberto had sex with her in April 2013.
The prosecutor said they will offer the evidence under the Federal Rules of Evidence as it is “probative of defendant’s motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of accident.”
The hearing on the issue will be on Monday, May 12. The new trial date is also expected to be known that day.
On Tuesday, the U.S. government filed an additional charge of witness tampering against Roberto on top of two counts of enticement of a minor.
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
According to the second superseding indictment, on April 24, 2014, while detained pending trial, Roberto allegedly attempted to influence the testimony of an individual and tried to persuade the same person to alter, destroy, and conceal evidence.
With respect to the enticement of a minor charges, Roberto allegedly persuaded two girls to engage in prostitution or in sexual activity from March 1, 2013 to July 18, 2013.
