Rep. Palacios arrested again

Rep. Raymond D. Palacios was arrested again yesterday, this time for not appearing at last week’s hearing in connection with a consolidated 11-year-old civil case.

“This court is not without mercy and compassion but when a court issues an order, that order must be taken seriously,” Superior Court associate judge Joseph N. Camacho told the 48-year-old lawmaker.

Camacho reduced the $500 bail to $250 cash and directed deputy court marshal Jess Santos to take Palacios into custody to the Department of Corrections.

The judge ordered Palacios to return to court today, Thursday, at 1:30pm for a show-cause hearing.

Saipan Tribune learned that the lawmaker posted the $250 cash bail and was released from prison yesterday at 1:45pm.

Palacios told the court yesterday that he thought the hearing was set for today, Dec. 29, not Dec. 22. He said he had a very hectic schedule, including attending two funerals and a wedding.

Palacios said that when he learned that the hearing was on Dec. 22, he immediately contacted attorney Michael White, counsel for Bank of Saipan, then proceeded to court yesterday morning. He asked the court to quash the bench warrant as he can’t afford to pay the $500 bail. He promised to show up for today’s hearing.

White pointed out that there is no guarantee that Palacios will show up as he will just say that he forgot or is confused again about the hearing schedule.

“I swear [on] my Mom’s grave that I will appear tomorrow,” Palacios replied.

Palacios was not immediately arrested when he arrived in court yesterday morning as associate judge David A. Wiseman had yet to sign the bench warrant. Wiseman was conducting a bench trial on Tinian yesterday.

When told by some court employees about the situation, Camacho signed the bench warrant for Wiseman shortly before noon yesterday and then heard the case. Palacios appeared without a lawyer.

The bench warrant was issued for Palacios’ failure to appear before Wiseman on Dec. 22, 2011, for proceedings upon Bank of Saipan’s motion for order to show cause.

The civil case filed by Bank of Saipan has been consolidated with the PTI civil case against Palacios.

White said there was a court judgment ordering Palacios to make payment for more than $6,000 but the representative did not show up in court on May 5, 2011.

When Palacios was brought to court on Oct. 31 to face charges of trafficking methamphetamine or “ice,” associate judge Perry Inos informed the lawmaker about an outstanding bench warrant issued against him on May 5, 2011, for failing to appear in court that day.

In the civil case, Inos released Palacios on his own recognizance and set the hearing for Dec. 1, 2011, before Wiseman. Palacios was subsequently ordered to appear on Dec. 22, but he didn’t show up.

Palacios was arrested last October for the drug charge and was released on bail. He pleaded not guilty.