Court issues summons for man convicted of hostage taking

The U.S. District Court for the NMI has granted the request of the U.S Probation Office to issue a summons for a man who violated the terms of his probation in a case involving a hostage taking.

District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona Manglona issued the summons for habitual offender Edwin Peter Blas, a man convicted of hostage taking and felon in possession of ammunition, among other charges, after he admitted to consuming alcohol in violation of his probation.

The U.S Probation Office also wants the court to revoke Blas’ probation anew.

According to the probation officer, Blas was arrested for a criminal offense and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the arrest. He later admitted to consuming alcohol on Jan. 7, 2020.

He received a sentence of 18 month imprisonment, followed by 18 months of supervised release for that crime but on Sept. 1, 2021, Blas admitted to consuming alcohol again in violation of his release conditions.

Blas has a long list of violating probation, according to the US Probation Office’s petition for warrant of summons.

Initially, Blas was sentenced to an imprisonment term of 180 months for one count of hostage taking, and 120 months for possession of ammunition back in August 1999. His sentence was to be served concurrently, followed by a five-year term of supervised release.

On April 10, 2014, the conditions of his release were modified to include that Blas refrain from the use of all alcoholic beverages after he reported to a substance abuse counseling appointment while under the influence of alcohol.

On Oct. 15, 2014, Blas’ probation was revoked because he admitted to consuming alcohol on two separate occasions and failing to report for a counseling session. He received a sentence of eight months in prison, followed by 52 months of supervised release.

Blas’ probation was revoked again on July 27, 2016, for use of marijuana and for lying to his probation officer. He was sentenced to a one-month imprisonment term, followed by 51 months of supervised release.

During the supervised release in this case, his probation was revoked on May 18, 2017, for use of methamphetamine and alcohol. He received an imprisonment term of seven days followed by 41 months of supervised release.

On June 8, 2018, Blas assaulted his common-law spouse and used alcohol on April 25, 2018. His probation was revoked, again, on June 26, 2018 and he was sentenced to 14 months, followed by 27 months of supervised probation.

His probation was revoked another time on Feb. 19, 2020, after Blas was arrested for a new criminal offense and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the arrest, as well as admission to consuming alcohol on Jan. 7, 2020.