5-year term for man who had sex with girl, 15

A 37-year-old man who sexually abused a 15-year-old girl on Rota was sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison, without the possibility of parole.

Steve Barcinas Cabrera was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho also sentenced Cabrera to the maximum of five years in prison, all suspended, for violating his probation related to a previous criminal conviction. Both sentences shall run consecutively.

Cabrera was given credit for 44 days of time served. That means the total prison term is five years minus 44 days.

Cabrera asked that he be allowed a month to prepare himself before reporting to the Department of Corrections on Saipan. This request was denied, with Camacho telling Cabrera that DOC is not a hotel where he can decide when to check in or out.

Camacho told Cabrera he is now a convicted sex offender and he is going to prison to be punished for his crime.

Camacho ordered Cabrera to start serving his sentence immediately, but gave him a chance to say his goodbyes to family members and friends.

Upon hearing this, Cabrera’s elderly mother fainted and required assistance from court marshals and other officers.

Cabrera pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree as part of a plea deal with the government. He also admitted to violation his probation. He was represented by assistant public defender Matthew Meyer. As part of the deal, all other charges were dropped.

Assistant attorney general Shannon R. Foley represented the government.

Camacho, who has been assigned to handle all Rota cases starting January 2015, informed the parties that it seems that the choice was to reluctantly accept a lesser sex offense or the prosecution might dismiss the case completely.

According to the factual basis of the plea deal, on Oct. 4, 2014 on Rota, Cabrera, 37, had sex with the 15-year-old girl in her house. Cabrera admitted in court that he had been dating the girl for about a week before they had sex.

Cabrera claimed he did not force the girl but Camacho told him that a 15-year-old girl is not mature enough to consent to an adult activity such as sex.

Camacho also ordered Cabrera to pay a $2,000 fine, which may be converted to community service, and $100 court costs, upon his release from prison.

Cabrera was required to perform 200 hours of community service and pay restitution to the victim in an amount to be determined by the Office of Adult Probation for previous and any future medical or psychological treatment.

Cabrera was ordered to register as a sex offender with the CNMI Sex Offender Registry. He was required to undergo examination focusing on sex offender counseling.