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Jury selection begins in the trial of Villagomez
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Posted on Mar 30 2009
Jury selection began yesterday in the trial of the CNMI’s second most powerful government official—Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez—and his co-defendants, who are all facing bribery and wire fraud charges.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson will continue the jury selection today, Tuesday.
The media was not allowed to attend the jury selection as over 100 prospective jurors filled the courtroom. The court, however, will allow the media to cover the trial after the court selects the final 12 jurors who will decide the fate of Villagomez, James A. Santos and Joaquina V. Santos.
The judge had summoned 227 prospective jurors.
In a federal jury selection for a criminal case, a judge will select from the prospective jury pool 12 jurors plus one or two alternates.
After the jury selection, the prosecution and defense lawyers will then hold their opening arguments.
At 7:45am yesterday, there was a long line of prospective jurors entering the Horiguchi Building for the orientation.
Seen outside the Huriguchi Building yesterday afternoon was former lieutenant governor and current congressman Diego T. Benavente, who was talking with former Senate president Juan Demapan, former House speaker Pedro R. Guerrero, and former congressman Benjamin Sablan.
Veteran defense lawyer David Lujan and Tinian lawyer Joey San Nicolas are representing Villagomez. The Torres Brothers law firm is defending James Santos, while attorney Ramon Quichocho is counsel for Joaquina Santos.
The superseding indictment charged Villagomez and the Santos couple with bribery concerning a program receiving federal funds, conspiracy to defraud and to commit offenses against the U.S., wire fraud, and theft concerning a program receiving federal funds.
The indictment alleged that Villagomez accepted a $15,000 bribe from the Santos couple for approving the purchase of Rydlyme, a cleaning and de-scaling chemical, for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. The couple was also charged with bribery for allegedly offering the $15,000 to Villagomez.
The three defendants have pleaded innocent to the charges.
