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Ex-lawmaker pleads guilty over taking of endangered birds
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Posted on Nov 05 2006
Former Rep. Ignacio DLG. Demapan, who was indicted in federal court for taking endangered birds, has entered a guilty plea.
Demapan and counsel Stephanie Flores signed a plea agreement with the U.S. government represented by assistant U.S. attorney Timothy Moran.
During a hearing on Wednesday, the 54-year-old Demapan pleaded guilty to one count of taking an endangered species.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson accepted the defendant’s plea and set the sentencing for Jan. 19, 2007 at 9:30am.
Munson granted Demapan’s request to remain at liberty under the same terms and conditions of his bail as previously set by the court.
In April 2006, special agents from the Division of Fish and Wildlife arrested Demapan and three other men for allegedly taking endangered birds.
According to the indictment, between February and March 2004, Demapan “took endangered species of wildlife—one or more nightengale reed-warblers.
Saipan Tribune learned that the Division of Fish and Wildlife claimed they had informed the defendants about the presence of the endangered birds nesting in their respective lands.
The defendants allegedly cleared their lands, including the portion where the nesting of the birds were located.
