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Govendo orders mistrial in sexual abuse of a child case
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Posted on Dec 16 2011
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Reporter
Superior Court associate judge Kenneth L. Govendo yesterday declared a mistrial in the case against Alvin P. Iglecias, a 41-year-old man accused of sexually abusing a minor girl.
Govendo issued the order after both the prosecution and the defense counsel moved the court for a mistrial due to issues regarding discovery and Rule 413 of the Commonwealth Rules of Evidence.
Govendo’s one-page order did not contain explanation and other information about the motion.
On Wednesday, the Office of the Attorney General called a witness who claimed that Iglecias inappropriately touched her. Assistant public defender Douglas Hartig, counsel for the defendant, strongly objected to the testimony considering that the defense was not provided with it during the discovery period.
Saipan Tribune tried to get comment from assistant attorney general Shelli Neal, but as of press time she had yet to respond to an email.
The jury trial of Iglecias, who is charged with one count of sexual abuse of a child, began on Monday.
With the mistrial order, the judge excused the seven jurors, including one alternate.
There was no schedule yet as to the date for a new trial.
Detective Melinda Villanueva stated in her report that a police officer responded to a residence in Dandan in May 2010 to investigate a report about a sexual abuse of a minor case.
Villanueva said when the police officer arrived at the house, the complainant was crying and appeared very upset.
The complainant asked that the two minor girls be transported away from the house for their safety.
Villanueva said Iglecias has been allegedly abusing one victim for four years already.
Villanueva said the second girl stated that the defendant also touched her private parts before, but that he stopped since then.
