Former candidate for House seat arrested for allegedly sexually abusing minor
Police arrested over the weekend a former candidate for a House’s seat who allegedly sexually abused a minor girl at a residence.
Police served an arrest warrant to Juan Reyes Babauta at his residence in As Matuis on Saturday night for sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree.
Babauta, 52, was arrested for sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree.
At yesterday’s hearing, Superior Court associate judge Joseph N. Camacho imposed a $25,000 cash bail on the 52-year-old Babauta.
Preliminary hearing will be on Jan. 26 at 9am.
Camacho appointed the Office of Public Defender to represent Babauta in the case.
Assistant public defender Daniel Guidotti served as counsel for the defendant. Assistant attorney general Nicole Driscoll appeared for the government.
Camacho said the defendant is allowed to file a motion for bail modification.
Detective Rudolfo Hermosilla stated in his report that preliminary investigation showed that, on Jan. 6, 2012 at 6pm, Babauta picked up a 12-year-old girl from a residence and brought her to a house in As Matuis, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
The detective said when he talked with Babauta last Jan. 10 he refused for further interview as he was allegedly instructed by his lawyer not to talk about the matter to the police.
Saipan Tribune learned that Babauta was GOP’s candidate under Precinct 4 for the House during the 2009 election. He did not win.