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1 of 2 who allegedly took sea turtle to plead guilty
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Posted on Oct 02 2020
One of the two men facing charges in the U.S District Court for the NMI for allegedly illegally trying to take a green sea turtle is set to change his plea.
Russel Rekemel Solomon, one of the two men who are being sued for taking an endangered sea turtle, could not appear for a change of plea hearing last Monday so he asked the court to reschedule his hearing. Solomon was scheduled to change his plea yesterday but his plea agreement remains sealed.
According to Saipan Tribune archives, Solomon and his co-defendant, Jose Machutaro Ichiro Sablan, are charged with conspiracy to unlawfully take an endangered species at the federal court.
On June 7, Solomon and Sablan allegedly conspired to drag a sea turtle across Tank Beach in Kagman by a rope tied around the turtle’s shell. The green sea turtle is considered an endangered species.
The charge includes a notice of forfeiture to the U.S. government of any materials used for taking or selling of the endangered species. The notice listed two cell phones.
Both defendants appeared before District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Manglona last Aug. 21 and initially pleaded not guilty before the court.
Manglona then set the jury trial for Oct. 27, 2020 at 10am. The judge ordered Solomon and Sablan to be released on their own recognizance with certain conditions.
David Banes was appointed by the court to represent Solomon, while Sablan is represented by Steven Pixley. Assistant U.S. attorney Garth Backe represented the federal government.
