Bid to reduce bail for suspect in alleged battery case denied

Posted on Sep 29 2011

The Superior Court denied Wednesday the motion to reduce the $10,000 cash bail for 20-year-old Mark Aguilar Espeleta, who is accused of beating up a Northern Marianas College student.

Associate judge Kenneth L. Govendo said, however, that he will allow Espeleta’s release if he posts a $1,000 bail and $9,000 in unsecured bond.

Espeleta appeared in court with assistant public defender Benjamin Petersburg as his counsel while Chief Prosecutor Michael Ernest represented the government.

Espeleta was arrested on Sept. 26 on charges of aggravated assault and battery, and assault and battery after he allegedly punched an NMC student on the left jaw and kicked him on the chest on Sept. 2.

The alleged attack resulted in the victim sustaining a fractured jaw that required him to go to Guam to have it fixed. He reportedly incurred more than $4,000 for the surgery.

Espeleta is scheduled to next appear in court on Oct. 17 for his arraignment.

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