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2 warrants unserved on Sgt. Tagabuel
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Posted on May 17 2012
Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman issued two bench warrants against police sergeant Vicente O. Tagabuel—one in 2003 for not appearing at a review hearing in a small claim matter and one in 2004 for not appearing at a status conference in a 2003 criminal case.
Wiseman only learned that the bench warrants were never served to Tagabuel after the sergeant was taken to court for a bail hearing in a domestic case on Tuesday afternoon.
It appears that the obvious reason why the warrants were not served was because Tagabuel was in charge of the Department of Public Safety’s summons and warrant office.
On Wednesday, Wiseman learned from the prosecution that Tagabuel’s 2003 criminal case is still pending, although Tagabuel believes it has already been dismissed.
Wiseman decided to hold another conference by next month to set a trial date for the 2003 criminal case.
In that case, the Office of the Attorney General charged Tagabuel with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault, three counts of disturbing the peace, and two counts of criminal mischief for allegedly threatening Andrew Rapoulug with a machete on Dec. 29, 2002.
The case file showed that Tagabuel entered a plea agreement with the government, but there was no indication that there was a change of plea hearing.
Tagabuel’s two court-appointed lawyers withdrew from the case.
In his 2011 criminal case, the Office of the Attorney General charged Tagabuel with utility theft in the amount of $196.70. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a $50 fine, $196.70 in restitution and a recommendation fee of $93.37 to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. He was also required to perform 25 hours of community service. There was no jail term.
Police arrested Tagabuel on Sunday afternoon after he allegedly threatened his son and daughter-in-law with a machete. The defendant allegedly told a detective that he only tried to scare his son for not returning his car and refusing to get out of the vehicle.
